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XM  F 


HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 


ITS  RISE  AND  PROGRESS 


BY 

SARAH  H.  KILLIKELLY 


PITTSBURGH,  PA. 

B.  C,  &  GORDON  MONTGOMERY  CO. 

1906 


p- 1  s^ 


Copyright,  1906 

BY 
SARAH  H.  KILLIKELLY 


LIBRARY  of  OONSRESS 
Two  Copies  Received 

DEC  16  1906 

GLASS    A/XXc.^No, 
'      COPY  B.        '• 


J.  B    LYON  COMPANY 
PRINTERS,    ALBANY,     N.    Y. 


PREFATORY   NOTE 


^^OUR  years  after  commencin'g  the  task  of  gathering 
*|  data,  this  volume  is  presented  to  the  public.  The 
history  of  Pittsburgh  is  essentially  the  history  of 
Allegheny  county  —  the  greater  Pittsburgh.  The  chief 
factor  in  its  rise  and  progress  has  been  manufacturing. 
All  others  have  been  secondary.  Whatever  has  been  ma- 
tured and  sent  forth  from  this  district  has  been  given 
what  may  be  called  its  final  touch  in  Pittsburgh.  The  city, 
as  the  metropolis  of  the  county  and  the  vast  busy  region 
adjacent  thereto,  has  stood  out  in  the  affairs  of  the  State 
and  nation,  and  in  the  history  of  the  world,  as  a  leader  in  the 
evolution  of  the  industrial  arts  for  nearly  a  century.  For 
this  reason  it  has  been  impossible  to  confine  the  treatment 
to  Pittsburgh  proper,  or  to  give  distinct  place  to  any  lesser 
city  or  town  within  the  district.  Generally,  what  is  written 
of  Pittsburgh  will,  with  very  little  modification,  apply  to 
Allegheny,  and  so  on. 

To  ensure  the  best  results  it  has  been  necessary  to  divide 
the  work  into  sections.  The  chief  aim  has  been  to  make  a 
readable  book,  not  a  biographical  work;  to  make  a  book  of 
events,  which  actually  constitute  the  history  of  Pittsburgh, 
rather  than  laudatory  accounts  of  those  who  played  a  part 
therein.    An  attempt  has  also  been  made,  in  a  moderate 

[  iii  ] 


PEEFATORY  NOTE 

way,  to  hold  the  history  of  the  district  in  just  proportion  to 
national  history.  That  it  is  not  more  complete  in  this  re- 
spect is  due  to  the  meagre  records,  and  to  this  cause  may 
also  be  attributed  the  brevity  of  the  minor  sections  of  the 
book. 

In  the  collection  of  data  I  wish  to  acknowledge  my  indebt- 
edness to  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Darlington,  Mr.  J.  L.  Schwartz,  and 
my  niece,  Sarah  Carpenter,  of  Pittsburgh;  to  the  various 
city  and  county  officials ;  to  the  libraries  of  the  city  and  to 
Miss  Willard,  of  the  Central  Carnegie  Library;  to  the  His- 
torical Societies  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  York,  and  to  the 
National  Library  at  Washington.  For  assistance  in  the 
preparation  of  the  work,  I  am  indebted  to  my  niece,  and  to 
Mr.  Karl  A.  Seager,  of  New  York. 

July  twentieth,  1906.  Saeah  H.  Killikelly. 


[iv] 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Frontispiece,  Pittsburgh  at  Night. 

Relic  of  the  French  Domination,  found  at  Point  Pleasant,  buried  in  the 

summer  of  1749 4 

Plan  of  Fort  Duquesne 15 

Historical  Map  of  Southwestern  Pennsylvania,  showing  sites  of  the  prin- 
cipal old  Forts,  Military  Roads,  and  Trails 19 

Plan  of  Fort  Pitt 36 

Block  House,  built  by  Colonel  Bouquet,  1764 49 

Fort  Fayette 59 

Plan  of  Lots  in  Pittsburgh,  1764 74 

First  Pittsburgh  Post  Office  and  First  Home  of  the  Gazette 99 

Allegheny  County's  first  Court  House  and  the  Old  Diamond  Market 106 

Pittsburgh   in   1795 115 

Benjamin    Bakewell,   Esq 134 

Point  Bridge  and  Coal  Fleet 145 

Pittsburgh  in  1817,  from  a  sketch  by  Mrs.  E.  C.  Gibson 157 

Smithfield  Street  Bridge,  1832,  from  an  oil  painting  by  Russel  Smith,  1833.  160 
Pittsburgh  about  1825;  from  an  old  plate  made  by  Clews  of  Stafi'ordshire, 

Eng 162 

Pittsburgh  in  1825-26,  from  "The  Travels  of  H.  H.  Bernhard,  Duke  of 

Saxe  Weimar  Eisenach,  in  North  America,  1825-26." 165 

Old  Allegheny  Penitentiary;  from  an  old  platter  made  in  England 168 

Aqueduct  over  the  Allegheny  1829,  from  an  oil  painting  by  Russel  Smith.  170 

Allegheny  County  Court  House,  destroyed  by  fire  1882 176 

Over  the  Mountains  in  1839;  Canal  Boat  being  hauled  over  the  portage 

road 181 

Diagram  of  the  Burned  District 186 

Great  Conflagration  at  Pittsburgh,  April  10,  1845 189 

Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny,  from  Coal  Hill,  1849 194 

Old  City  Hall  202 

Burning  of  Round  House,  from  a  sketch  by  J.  W.  Alexander 229 

Burning  of  Union  Station,  from  a  sketch  by  Fred  B.  Schell 233 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Pittsburgh  as  it  is  to-day 244 

A  Typical  Steel  Works,  Jones  &  Laughlin  Steel  Co 248 

One  of  Pittsburgh's  Giants,  the  Westinghouse  Works 253 

University  Building,  1830-45,  and  Present  Buildings 294 

Allegheny  Observatory,  Riverview  Park,  Allegheny 302. 

First  Trinity  Church   357 

Plan  of  Pews  in  Old  Log  Church 362 

Old  First  Presbyterian  Church 365 

Third  Presbyterian  Church,  corner  Third  and  Ferry  streets,  built  1833. . . .  368 

First  Presbyterian  Church  in  East  Liberty,  erected  1819 371 

Old  United  Evangelical  Church 376 

Subsistence  Committee  and  part  of  City  Hall  where  upwards  of  four  hun- 
dred  thousand   soldiers   were   furnished  a  meal   each   during   the   Civil 

War.     A  thousand  could  be  accommodated  at  one  time 478 

General   James   O'Hara 519 

Hon.    Wm.    Wilkins 520 

Hon.  Ebenezer  Denny,  first  Mayor  of  Pittsburgh 522 

Pittsburgh's  first  Theatre  and  the  Old  Drury  Theatre 530 

Stephen  Foster,  author  of  "  Suwanee  River  "  and  other  songs 536 

Mrs.    Mary    Schenley 538 

Anderson  Library,  Allegheny,  established   1850 549 

Carnegie  Institute 554 


CHRONOLOGY 


1681  Grant  of  land  by  Charles  II.  to  William  Penn. 

1682  William  Penn  founded  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania 

and  drafted  the  "  Frame  of  Government." 

1682  The  French  laid  claim  through  LaSalle's  discovery  of 
the  Mississippi  to  all  the  tributary  rivers  and  the 
territory  through  which  they  flowed. 

1713  At  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht  the  English  claimed  the  con- 
tinent from  sea  to  sea  through  the  discoveries  of  the 
Cabots, 

1716  The  Governor  of  Virginia  became  alarmed  at  the  in- 
tention of  the  French  to  extend  a  series  of  fortifica- 
tions between  their  possessions  in  Canada  and 
Louisiana,  thereby  creating  a  French  military  bar- 
rier west  of  the  English  provinces. 

1719  Governor  Keith,  of  Pennsylvania,  urged  the  erection 
of  a  fort  on  Lake  Erie. 

1731  Lieutenant-Governor  Patrick  again  reminded  the 
Pennsylvania  Assembly  of  the  menace  of  the  French 
and  recommended  a  fort  on  Lake  Erie. 

1744  Treaty  at  Lancaster.  Eepresentatives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Virginia,  and  Maryland  met  with  the  Six 
Nations.  Conrad  Weiser  acted  as  friend  and  inter- 
preter for  the  Indians.  Upon  the  purchase  accom- 
plished at  this  treaty  the  English  thereafter  based 
their  western  territorial  rights  against  the  Indians. 

1748  Ohio  Land  Company  organized  by  Thomas  Lee,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Virginia  Assembly,  to  settle  the  lands 
about  the  headwaters  of  the  Ohio. 
[  V  ] 


CHRONOLOGY 

1748  Conrad  Weiser  presided  over  Council  and  Treaty  with 

the  Indians  at  Logstown  further  confirming  the 
Treaty  at  Lancaster. 

1749  The  Governor-General  of  Canada  despatched  Captain 

Celeron  down  the  Allegheny  and  Ohio  rivers  to  take 
formal  possession  of  that  region  for  France  in  the 
name  of  Louis  XV.  by  depositing  Leaden  Plates,  en- 
graved to  that  effect,  and  buried  at  various  points. 
French  possession  of  the  ' '  Three  Rivers  ' '  was  thus 
declared  and  recorded  August  third,  1749. 

1749  Many  evidences  of  English  traders  among  the  Indians 

in  this  region. 

1750  Christopher  Gist  blazed  the  trail  west  over  the  moun- 

tains from  Virginia,  following  the  Potomac,  the 
Juniata,  the  Kiskiminetas  down  the  Allegheny  into 
the  Ohio,  below  the  "  Three  Rivers." 

1751  Christopher  Gist  again  went  west  and  was  present  at 

a  treaty  with  the  Indians  held  at  Logstown. 

1752  Beginning  of  the  Boundary  dispute  between  Penn- 

sylvania and  Virginia. 

1753  George  Washington,  with  Gist  for  guide,  acted  as  mes- 

senger for  Governor  Dinwiddle,  of  Virginia,  to  the 
Commandant  at  Fort  Le  Boeuf. 

1754  Captain  Trent  and  forty  men  sent  by  Governor  Din- 

widdle arrived  at  the  Forks  of  the  Ohio,  and  began 
the  erection  of  a  stockade. 

1754  April  seventeenth,  Captain  Contrecoeur,  with  several 
hundred  French  and  Indians,  came  down  the  Alle- 
gheny, demanded  the  surrender  of  Trent's  men  and 
sent  them  back  to  Governor  Dinwiddle,  declaring 
the  English  to  be  encroaching  on  French  territory. 

1754  The  erection  of  Fort  Duquesne  on  the  *'  Point  " 
named  in  honor  of  the  Governor-General,  of 
Canada. 

1754  May  twenty-eighth,  "  Battle  of  Little  Meadows  "  (a 
skirmish  in  which  Washington  was  successful). 

1754  July  third,  "  Battle  of  Great  Meadows  "  (an  engage- 
ment of  some  ultimate  purport,  in  which  Washing- 
ton was  defeated,  and  forced  to  evacuate  the  stock- 
ade called  "  Fort  Necessity  "). 
[  vi  ] 


CHRONOLOGY 

1754  Services  held  by  Catholic  daaplain  at  Chapel,  in  Fort 

Duquesne. 

1755  July  ninth,  Braddock's  defeat. 

1756  September,  Colonel  Armstrong's  successful  expedi- 

tion against  Kittanning. 

1758  September  fourteenth,  Major  Grant,  with  a  detach- 
ment of  the  Forbes  army,  made  a  precipitate  attack 
on  the  French,  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Duquesne,  and 
suffered  a  disastrous  defeat. 

1758  November  twenty-fourth,  the  French  destroyed  their 
stores  at  Fort  Duquesne,  fired  the  structure,  and 
hurriedly  evacuated,  being  unequal  to  meet  and  re- 
sist General  Forbes. 

1758  November  twenty-fifth.  General  Forbes  and  his  army 
camped  in  sight  of  the  smouldering  ruins.  Among 
his  officers  were  Colonel  George  Washington  and 
Colonel  Bouquet. 

1758  The  name  * '  Pittsburgh  ' '  first  used. 

1758-59,  winter  of.  Erection  of  the  first  Fort  Pitt.  Colonel 
Hugh  Mercer  in  command. 

1759  September  third,  General  Stanwix,  with  large  force  of 

workmen,  began  the  erection  of  the  substantial 
structure  of  Fort  Pitt,  which  was  not  completed 
until  the  summer  of  1761. 

1760  First  recorded  population  of  Pittsburgh,  464. 

1760  First  boats  built  in  Pittsburgh. 

1761  The  first  schoolmaster  had  twenty  scholars. 

1763  Survey  of  boundary  between  Pennsylvania  and  Mary- 
land commenced  by  Mason  and  Dixon. 

1763  Siege  of  Fort  Pitt  during  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac. 

1763  May  thirtieth,  Captain  Ecuyer,  Commandant  of  the 
Fort,  demolished  the  town  of  Pittsburgh,  and  took 
the  inhabitants  into  the  Fort. 

1763  August  eleventh,  siege  lifted  by  reinforcements  under 

Colonel  Bouquet. 

1764  Redoubt  or  Block  House  built  during  summer,  bearing 

tablet  engraved  ''  Coll.  Bouquet,  1764." 
1764  First  survey  made  of  Pittsburgh,  by  Colonel  John 
Campbell. 

[  vii  ] 


CHEONOLOGY 

1766  Coal  was  used  in  the  Garrison,  and  ''  Coal  Hill  "  was 
burning. 

1768  October  twenty-fourth,  at  a  conference  with  the  Six 

Nations,  Delawares  and  Shawanese,  Thomas  and 
Richard  Penn  purchased,  for  $10,000.00,  territory 
including  Pittsburgh  and  vicinity. 

1769  Early  part  of  this  year,  the  Manor  of  Pittsburgh  was 

surveyed,  containing  5,766  acres. 

1770  Washington  stopped  at  Pittsburgh  on  a  journey  to 

look  over  land  he  held  in  the  ''  Western  Country." 
Previous  to  the  year  1770,  a  short  distance  above 
where  the  arsenal  is  now  located,  Jonathan  Plum- 
mer  erected  a  distillery. 

1771  The  Penns  appointed  magistrates  to  act  in  Pittsburgh. 

1772  October,  because  of  the  Penn  purchase  of  1768,  Gen- 

eral Gage  ordered  Major  Edmonson  to  abandon 
Fort  Pitt. 

1773  By  order  of  Governor  Dunmore,  of  Virginia,  Dr.  John 

Connolly  took  possession  of  Fort  Pitt,  and  renamed 

it  Fort  Dunmore. 
1775  August  seventh,  Captain  John  Neville,  with  100  men, 

garrisoned  Fort  Pitt. 
1775  February  twenty-first,  Virginia  held  the  first  court  in 

Pittsburgh. 
1775  A  ducking  stool  was  erected  at  the  Point. 
1775  May  sixteenth,  prominent  Pittsburghers  took  part  in  a 

meeting  at  Hannastown,  to  indorse  the  action  of  the 

eastern  provinces  in  resisting  Great  Britain. 

1779  Amicable  settlement  of  the  bitter  Boundary  Dispute, 

between  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia. 

1780  Iron  ore  discovered  on  western  slope  of  the  AUe- 

ghenies. 

1781  Protest  of  citizens  against  Colonel  Brodhead. 

1781  November   sixth,   Cornwallis   surrender  reported   at 

Fort  Pitt. 

1782  Monongahela  declared  open  to  the  public,  followed 

shortly  by  similar  declarations  regarding  the  Ohio 
and  Allegheny. 

1783  September,  William  Butler  was  granted  the  right  of  a 

ferry  between  Pittsburgh  and  the  tract  opposite 
(Allegheny). 

[  viii  ] 


CHEONOLOGY 

1784  March,  Jolin  Ormsby  was  granted  tlie  right  of  a  ferry 
from  Pittsburgh  across  the  Monongahela. 

1784  David  Elliott  was  granted  the  right  of  a  ferry  from 
Saw  Mill  Run  to  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Ohio. 

1784  Woods  and  Vickroy  surveyed  Pittsburgh. 

1784  First  sale  of  land  included  in  the  Manor  of  Pittsburgh 

was  made  to  Isaac  Craig  and  Stephen  Bayard. 

1785  September,  An  Act  appropriated  $10,000.00,   for  a 

State  road  between  Miller's  Spring  and  Pittsburgh. 

1786  July  twenty-ninth,  John  Scull  and  Joseph  Hall  estab- 

lished the  Pittsburgh  Gazette. 

1786  Hugh  Ross  established  the  first  ropewalk. 

1787  Deed  executed  by  John  Penn  and  John  Penn,  Jr.,  for 

two  and  one-half  lots  for  erection  of  Trinity  Church ; 

deed  filed  at  Greensburg,  1788. 
1787  Presbyterian  congregation  organized  at  Pittsburgh; 

Penns  deeded  lot  for  this  church. 
1787  German  Evangelical  Church  also  given  lots  by  the 

Penns  for  a  church. 
1787  First  postal  service. 
1787  First  Market  House. 

1787  Incorporation  of  Pittsburgh  Academy. 

1788  The  Reserved  Tract,  opposite  Pittsburgh  (now  Alle- 

gheny), was  surveyed. 
1788  Allegheny  county  erected. 
1788  December,  first  court  of  Quarter  Sessions  held  in  the 

house  of  Andrew  Watson. 
1788  First  Circulating  library. 
1790  Iron  ore  found  in  Fayette  county  by  John  Hayden. 

1790  Furnace  of  Alliance  Iron  Works  first  blown  in,  on 

November  first. 

1791  Congress  laid  an  excise  on  spirits. 

1791  An  Act  appropriating  $2,500.00  for  a  road  from  Bed- 

ford to  Pittsburgh,  was  passed. 

1792  George  Anshutz  built  the  first  iron  furnace  in  Pitts- 

burgh. 
1792  May  first,  Fort  Fayette  first  occupied. 
1792  Mass  meeting  to  denounce  whiskey  tax. 
1794  April  twenty-second,  Pittsburgh  incorporated  as   a 

Borough. 

[  ix  ] 


CHRONOLOGY 

1794  May  nineteenth,  first  election  of  Borough  officers,  two 
chief  Burgesses  elected,  George  Robinson  and 
Josiah  Tannehill. 

1794  August  twentieth,  General  Anthony  Wayne,  at  Fort 
Deposit,  so  completely  defeated  the  Indians  as  to 
forever  relieve  Pittsburgh  from  the  devastations 
and  raids  to  which  it  had  always  been  subject. 

1794  August  first,  seven  thousand  men  gathered  in  rebellion 
against  the  government  because  of  the  whiskey  tax. 

1794  October  first.  President  Washington  and  an  army  of 

about  12,000  started  for  Pittsburgh.  Before  they 
had  reached  Bedford  the  insurrectionists  had  sub- 
mitted and  the  Whiskey  Insurrection  ended. 

1795  Jacob  Bowman  made  nails  in  his  factory  at  Browns- 

ville. 
1797  First  glass  manufactured  by  Craig  and  O'Hara. 
1797  April  sixteenth,  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  at  which  it 

was  resolved  to  buy  fifty  fire  buckets.    This  was  the 

beginning  of  the  Fire  Department. 
1799.  First  court  house  completed. 
1800  Population  of  Pittsburgh,  1,565. 

1802  Pathways  of  brick,  stone  or  gravel,  bounded  by  curb- 
stones, were  laid  in  the  town. 
1802  August  ninth.  Town  Council  ordered  four  wells  sunk 

to  increase  the  water  supply. 
1803-4  First  iron  foundry  in  Pittsburgh  erected  by  Joseph 

McClurg  on  the  northeast  comer  of  Fifth  avenue 

and  Smithfield  street. 
1804  March  fifth,  Borough  of  Pittsburgh  re-incorporated. 
1804  First  cotton  factory  by  Peter  Eltonhead. 
1804  A  branch  of  the  Bank  of  Pennsylvania  established. 
1804  First  line  of  stages,  with  regular  schedule,  between 

this  place  and  the  East. 
1808-9  First  white  or  flint  glass  house. 
1810  Population  of  Pittsburgh  was  4,740. 
1810  Great  flood ;  much  damage  done. 

1810  Bank  of  Pittsburgh  organized  as  a  private  institution. 

1811  First  steamboat,  the ' '  New  Orleans, ' '  built  on  western 

waters  at  Pittsburgh. 
1813  Pittsburgh  ''  Humane  Society  "  established. 

[  X  ] 


CHRONOLOGY 

1813-14  Building  of  the  Allegheny  Arsenal. 

1816  March  eighth,  Pittsburgh  incorporated  as  a  city. 

1816  Mayor  of  Pittsburgh,  Ebenezer  Denny, 

1816  Bayardstown  and  Lawrenceville  laid  out. 

1816  Charters  granted  for  the  first  bridges  over  the  Monon- 

gahela  and  Allegheny, 

1817  September  fifth.  President  Monroe  visited  the  city. 
1817  Mayor,  John  Darragh ;  served  until  1825, 

1817  Branch  Bank  of  the  United  States  established. 

1817  259  factories  and  manufactories, 

1818  Monongahela  bridge  opened. 

1819  First  rolling  mill  to  puddle  iron  and  roll  iron  bars. 

Union  Rolling  Mill. 

1819  Februar}^  eighteenth,  charter  of  Western  University. 

1820  First  Allegheny  bridge  opened. 

1820  Population,  7,248, 

1821  Gas  found  by  Cook  and  McClelland  while  boring  for 

salt  water,  on  Little  Chartiers  Creek,  six  miles  from 
Washington,  Pa. 
1825  Visit  of  General  Lafayette. 

1825  Mayor,  John  M.  Snowden ;  served  until  1828. 

1826  Bill  authorizing  the  Pennsylvania  Canal. 

1827  Completion  of  the  State  Prison ;  cost  $183,092. 

1828  Mayor,  Magnus  M.  Murray ;  served  until  1830. 

1828  April  fourteenth,  Allegheny  and  Birmingham  incor- 
porated into  boroughs. 

1828  December,  first  waterworks  went  into  operation. 

1829  April  twenty-third.  The  Northern  Liberties  became  a 

borough. 
1829  November  tenth,  first  canal  boat  entered  Pittsburgh. 

1829  December  fourth,  the  city  was  divided  into  four  wards, 

North,  South,  East,  and  West. 

1830  Mayor,  Matthew  B.  Lowrie. 

1830  Population  of  Pittsburgh  and  environs,  22,461. 

1830  Great  tariff  agitation. 

1831  Mayor,  Magnus  M.  Murray. 

1831  First  steam  ferry. 

1832  Mayor,  Samuel  Pettigrew;  served  until  1836. 
3832  A  scourge  of  cholera. 

1833  Daniel  Webster  visited  the  city. 

[  xi  ] 


CHRONOLOGY 

1833  Removal  of  govemment  deposits  from  the  branch  of 

the  United  States  Bank. 
1833-34  Legislature  amended   the   city   charter,   and   the 
mayor  was  elected  from  the  body  of  the  people. 

1834  April  sixteenth,  completion  of  the  canal  from  the  coast 

to  Pittsburgh. 

1835  September,   first  common   schools   opened   in   Pitts- 

burgh. 
1835-36  Organization  of  first  Board  of  Trade  in  Pittsburgh. 

1836  Mayor,  Jonas  R.  McClintock ;  served  until  1839. 

1837  February    twenty-second,    Monongahela    Navigation 

Company  obtained  a  charter. 

1837  The  four  wards  of  the  city  were  denominated  First, 
Second,  Third,  and  Fourth,  and  the  Northern  Lib- 
erties were  incorporated  as  the  Fifth  Ward. 

1837  First  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Pittsburgh. 

1837  The  Panic. 

1837  Suspension  of  specie  payment.  * '  Rag  currency  ' '  pre- 
vailed. 

1837  April  fifth,  city  first  lighted  by  gas.  Experiments 
made,  1829. 

1839  Mayor,  William  Little. 

1840  Mayor,  William  W.  Irwin. 

1840  Pittsburgh  and  Beaver  Canal  opened. 

1840  During  this  year  about  one  hundred  iron  boats  were 

made  in  Pittsburgh. 
1840  Population  of  Pittsburgh  proper,  21,115;  including 

suburbs,  38,931. 
1840  Pittsburgh  known  as  the  Iron  City. 

1840  5,927  people  engaged  in  manufacturing  in  what  is  now 

Greater  Pittsburgh.    Capital  invested  in  manufac- 
turing, $3,554,562. 

1841  Mayor,  James  Thomson. 

1842  Tariff  legislation  affecting  Pittsburgh  industries. 
1842  Mayor,  Alexander  Hay ;  served  until  1845. 

1842  Three  bridges  across  the  Allegheny. 
1842  Six   daily   and   twelve   weekly   newspapers,    besides 
periodicals,  published  here. 

1842  The  second  court  house  completed ;  cost  $200,000. 

1843  The  third  jail  completed. 

[  xii  ] 


CHRONOLOGY 

1844  Second  system  of  waterworks  put  into  operation. 

1845  Mayor,  William  J.  Howard. 

1845  Great  fire.    Fifty-six  acres  of  Pittsburgh  consumed. 

1845  First  towing  of  coal  by  steam,  by  Daniel  Bushnell  and 

the  "  Walter  Forward." 
]  846  Mayor,  William  Kerr. 

1846  Tariff  legislation  affecting  Pittsburgh  industries. 

1846  First  telegraphic  communication  with  the  east. 

1847  Mayor,  Gabriel  Adams ;  served  until  1849. 

1847  January  first,  first  hospital ''  The  Mercy." 

1848  Henry  Clay  visited  Pittsburgh. 

1849  Mayor,  John  Herron. 

1849  President  Taylor,  accompanied  by  Governor  Johnston, 

visited  Pittsburgh. 

1850  Population  of  Pittsburgh  proper,  46,601;  including 

suburbs,  55,583. 
1850  Mayor,  Joseph  Barker. 

1850  Value  of  Pittsburgh  manufactures,  $50,000,000. 

1851  Pittsburgh  and  Ohio  Railroad  completed  to  Beaver; 

July  first,  first  locomotive,  *'  The  Salem,"  arrived 
by  canal. 

1851  Mayor,  John  B.  Guthrie;  served  until  1853. 

1852  Baltimore  &  Ohio  and  Pennnsylvania  Central  Rail- 

roads opened. 
1852  Board  of  Health  established. 

1852  Visit  of  Louis  Kossuth,  ex-Governor  of  Hungary. 
1852-53  Building  of  City  Hall  and  Market  House  on  the 

Diamond. 

1853  Mayor,  Robert  M.  Riddle. 

1853  Work  on  Allegheny  Valley  Railroad  commenced. 

1853  Post-office  and  Government  Building  erected,  corner 

of  Fifth  avenue  and  Smithfield  street. 
1853-54  Effort  to  consolidate  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny 
and  adjacent  boroughs. 

1854  Mayor,  Ferdinand  E.  Volz ;  served  until  1856. 

1854  Another  visitation  of  cholera  by  which  249  persons 

died. 
1854  Inauguration  of  the  use  of  iron  in  the  outside,  structure 

of  buildings. 
1854  Reorganization  of  the  Board  of  Trade. 

[  xiii  ] 


CHRONOLOGY 

1855  Roman  Catholic  Cathedral  completed. 

1856  Mayor,  William  Bingham. 

1856  February,  holding  of  the  first  National  Republican 

Convention,  Lafayette  Hall, 

1857  Mayor,  Henry  A.  Weaver;  served  until  1860. 

1857  September  to  January  first,  1858,  business  almost  at 
a  stand-still. 

1857  The  Public  Works  (canals)  purchased  by  the  Penn- 

sylvania Railroad  Company  for  $7,500,000. 

1858  First  operation  of  the  law  requiring  that  the  mayor, 

treasurer,  and  controller  be  elected  biennially  by  a 
general  vote. 

1859  First  street  railway  built. 

1859  August  twenty-eighth,  first  oil  well;  great  excitement 

in  Pittsburgh. 

1860  Mayor,  George  Wilson ;  served  until  1862. 
1860  Work  on  Allegheny  Observatory  commenced. 

1860  Visit  of  Prince  of  Wales  (now  Edward  VII.,  of  Eng- 
land). 

1860  City  disturbed  over  its  railroad  debt. 

1860-61  General  suspension  of  specie  payment. 

1860  Tariff  legislation  affecting  Pittsburgh  industries. 

1860  December  twenty-fourth,  Secretary  of  War  Floyd  or- 
dered removal  of  cannon  from  Arsenal. 

1860  December  twenty-seventh,  citizens  resolved  to  prevent 

removal. 

1861  January  third.  Secretary  Floyd  recalled  order  for  re- 

moval of  cannon. 
1861  February  fourteenth  and  fifteenth.  President  Lincoln 

visited  Pittsburgh. 
1861  April  fourteenth,  war  excitement  intense. 
1861  April  fifteenth.  Committee  of  Public  Safety  formed. 

1861  April  seventeenth,  the  first  troop,  the  Turner  Rifles, 

left  Pittsburgh  for  the  front. 

1862  Mayor,  B.  C.  Sawyer;  served  until  1864. 

1862  September  seventeenth.  Arsenal  explosion,  74  killed. 
1862-64  War  tariff  legislation  affected  Pittsburgh  favor- 
ably ;  increased  growth  of  city. 
1864  Mayor,  James  Lowry ;  served  until  1866. 
1864  Panic  of  short  duration. 

[  xiv  ] 


CHRONOLOGY 

1864  Sanitary  Fair  held. 

1865  September  nineteenth,  General  Grant  visited  Pitts- 

burgh. 

1866  Mayor,  W.  S.  McCarthy;  served  until  1868. 

1866  September  thirteenth,  President  Johnson,  Admiral 
Farragut,  General  Grant  and  Secretaries  Seward 
and  Wells  visited  Pittsburgh. 

1868  Mayor,  James  Blackmore. 

1869  Manufacture  of  air  brakes  begun  by  George  Westing- 

house. 
1869  Mayor,  Jared  M.  Brush;  served  until  1872.     (Term 
extended  to  three  years). 

1869  September  fourteenth,  President  Grant  visited  Pitts- 

burgh. 

1870  Capital  invested  in  Pittsburgh  manufactures  $106,- 

732,000.00;  value  of  products,  $82,057,000.00. 
1870  Paid  fire  department  inaugurated. 
1870-80  Many  banks  established. 
1872  Mayor,  James  Blackmore;  served  until  1875. 
1872  Work  on  new  water  system  commenced. 
1872  District  south  of  the  Monongahela,  27.7  square  miles, 

annexed  to  the  city. 

1872  New  City  Hall  completed. 

1873  Many  bank  suspensions. 

1874  Steel  manufactured  by  Bessemer  process  at  Edgar 

Thomson  Steel  Works. 

1875  Mayor,  William  C.  McCarthy;  served  until  1878. 

1875  Natural  gas  applied  to  manufacturing. 

1876  Point  Bridge  opened. 

1877  Railroad  riots. 

1878  Mayor,  Robert  Liddell ;  served  until  1881. 

1881  Mayor,  Robert  W.  Lyon;  served  until  1884. 

1882  May  seventh,  second  court  house  burned. 
1884  Mayor,  Andrew  Fulton ;  served  until  1887. 

1887  Mayor,  William  McCallin;  served  until  1890. 

1888  Present  court  house  completed. 
1888  Centennial  celebration. 

1890  Mayor,  Henry  I.  Gourley;  served  until  1893. 

1892  July,  Homestead  strike. 

1893  Mayor,  Bernard  McKenna;  served  until  1896. 

[   XV   ] 


CHRONOLOGY 

1896  Mayor,  Henry  P.  Ford;  served  until  1899. 
1899  Mayor,  William  J.  Diel;  served  until  1901. 

1899  January  thirteenth,  ordinance  for  the  widening  of 

Diamond  alley;  work  completed  1904. 

1900  Population  321,616. 

1901  Recorder,  A.  M.  Brown. 

1901  Recorder,  J.  0.  Brown;  served  until  1903. 

1903  Recorder,  W.  B.  Hays ;  served  about  one  week. 

1903  Mayor,  W.  B.  Hays;  served  until  1906. 

1903  January  twenty-third,  ordinance  for  the  widening  of 
Virgin  alley;  March  twenty-third,  1904,  name 
changed  to  Oliver  avenue;  work  completed  Decem- 
ber eleventh,  1905. 

1905  250,000  men  engaged  in  manufacturing. 

1905  $2,000,000,000.00  invested  in  iron  and  steel  manufac- 
tures; 103,000,000  tons  of  freight  handled. 

1905  First  department  of  the  Carnegie  Technical  Schools 

opened. 

1906  Roman  Catholic  Cathedral  completed. 
1906  Mayor,  George  W.  Guthrie. 


[  xvi  ] 


SOURCES 


Colonial  Records;  Pennsylvania  Archives;  Hazard's 
Register  of  Pennsylvania;  Niles'  Register;  Justin  Winsor's 
Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America;  Pennsylvania 
Magazine  of  History  and  Biography;  The  Magazine  of 
Western  History;  Olden  Times,  Neville  B.  Craig;  Annals 
of  the  West,  Albach;  Frontier  Forts,  edited  by  Dallas 
Albert;  Works  of  Benjamin  Franklin;  The  Journal  of 
General  Arthur  St.  Clair;  William  Trent's  Journal;  Jour- 
nal of  Colonel  Bouquet's  Expedition;  Upland  and  Denny's 
Journal;  Gazette  Publications,  H.  H.  Brackenridge ;  Fort 
Pitt,  Mary  C.  Darlington;  Gist's  Journal,  William  M. 
Darlington;  Old  Round  Church,  Oliver  Ormsby  Page; 
Monongahela  of  Old,  Judge  James  Veech;  The  Boundary 
Controversy,  Judge  James  Veech;  Pennsylvania  and  Vir- 
ginia Boundary  Controversy,  Neville  B.  Craig;  Watson's 
Annals;  History  of  Pittsburgh,  Isaac  Craig;  Honest  Man's 
Almanac,  1812;  Riddle's  Directory  for  1815;  Lyford's 
Western  Directory ;  Isaac  Jones '  Directory  for  1826 ;  Har- 
ris' Directory  for'l837;  The  Pittsburgh  Gazette  from  1786- 
1880;  The  Pittsburgh  Commercial  Journal;  The  Commer- 
cial; The  Hesperus  and  Western  Miscellany;  The  Rhode 
Island  Mercury;  The  New  York  Sun;  The  New  York 
Tribune;  The  Boston  Commercial  Bulletin;  Manuscript 
from  the  Manuscript  Department  of  the  Congressional 
Library,  at  Washington;  Pamphlets  from  the  State  His- 
torical Society  of  Pennsylvania ;  Pamphlets  from  the  State 

[  xvii  ] 


SOURCES 

Historical  Society  of  New  York;  History  of  the  United 
States,  George  Bancroft ;  Montcalm  &  Wolfe,  Francis  Park- 
man;  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  Francis  Parkman;  Spark's 
Life  and  Writings  of  Washington;  History  of  American 
Politics,  Alexander  Johnston;  Twenty  Years  in  Congress, 
James  G.  Blaine;  Tariff  History  of  the  United  States,  F. 
W.  Taussig;  History  for  Ready  Reference,  J.  N.  Larned; 
Financial  History  of  the  United  States,  A.  S.  Bolles;  Life 
of  Henry  Clay,  Carl  Schurz ;  Daniel  Webster,  H.  C.  Lodge ; 
Thirty  Years'  View,  T.  H,  Benton;  The  Tariff  Controversy, 
0.  H.  Elliott;  Travels  through  some  of  the  Middle  and 
Southern  North  American  States,  1783-1784,  Johann  Davis 
Shoepf,  Chancellor  of  the  Medical  College  of  Bayreuth; 
Travels  in  America,  Thomas  Ashe;  Pope's  Tours  through 
the  Southern  and  Western  Territories  of  the  United  States, 
John  Pope;  Fearon's  Travels;  The  Eastern  and  Western 
States  of  America,  J.  S.  Buckingham,  Esq.;  Flint's  Letters 
from  America;  Michaux's  Travels  to  the  Westward  of  the 
Allegheny  Mountains;  A  Tour  of  the  Unsettled  Parts  of 
North  America,  Journey  Made  in  1796  by  Francis  Baily; 
Recollections  of  the  West,  H.  M.  Brackenridge ;  History  of 
Pennsylvania,  William  H.  Egle;  Notes  and  Queries,  Egle; 
History  of  the  Whiskey  Insurrection,  H.  M.  Brackenridge; 
Whiskey  Insurrection,  Findley ;  History  of  Western  Penn- 
sylvania, by  a  Gentleman  of  the  Bar  (Rupp) ;  Mrs.  Royall's 
Description  of  Pittsburgh;  Allegheny  County,  Its  Early 
History,  Rev.  A.  A.  Lambing ;  The  Catholic  Church  and  the 
Diocese  of  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny,  Rev.  A.  A.  Lambing ; 
History  of  Allegheny  County,  1753-1876 ;  Judiciary  of  Alle- 
gheny County,  J.  W.  F.  White ;  Digest  of  Pittsburgh  Laws ; 
Rebellion  Record  of  Allegheny  County;  Anonymous  pam- 
phlet, published  by  W.  A.  Lare  and  W.  M.  Hartzell ;  Pitts- 
burgh As  It  Is,  George  H.  Thurston ;  Pittsburgh  and  Alle- 
gheny in  the  Centennial  Year,  George  H.  Thurston;  Alle- 
gheny County's  Hundred  Years,  George  H.  Thurston; 
Pittsburgh's  Progress,  Industries  and  Resources,  George  H. 
Thurston;  Pittsburgh,  Its  Industries  and  Commerce,  1870; 
Historical  Gleanings,  Judge  Parke;  Standard  History  of 
Pittsburgh,  edited  by  Erasmus  Wilson ;  Life  and  Reminis- 
cences, William  G.  Johnston ;  Bishop's  History  of  American 

[  xviii  ] 


SOURCES 

Manufactures;  Report  on  the  Manufacture  of  Glass,  Joseph 
D.  Weeks,  1884;  Iron  in  All  Ages,  Swank;  Merchants' 
Magazine  of  New  York,  1854;  Pittsburgh's  Quarterly  Maga- 
zine ;  Chamber  of  Commerce  Reports ;  The  Banker ;  A  Cen- 
tury of  Banking  in  Pittsburgh;  Annual  Reports  of  the 
Public  Schools  of  Pittsburgh;  Review  of  Reviews,  1905; 
Harper's  Weekly,  1877;  Leslie's  Weekly,  1877;  The  Index; 
The  Leader;  The  Post;  The  Dispatch;  The  Bulletin. 


[  xix  ] 


THE 

HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 


FRONTIER  TIMES 


The  birth  of  Pittsburgh  dates  back  to  the  contention  of 
England  with  France  for  the  continent  of  North  America. 
The  English  had  colonized  the  seaboard  from  Maine  to 
Florida,  and  year  by  year  were  pushing  farther  inland  their 
frontier  line,  claiming  the  land  from  the  sea  west,  without 
limit,  by  right  of  the  discoveries  of  the  Cabots.  The 
French  had  colonized  the  valley  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and 
had  possessed  themselves  of  the  Mississippi  by  the  pioneer 
voyage  of  La  Salle  in  1682,  claiming  all  the  territory  of  the 
Mississipi)i  and  of  its  tributary  rivers.  It  was  inevitable 
that  these  rivals  should  meet,  and  they  met  where  the 
Allegheny  and  Monongahela  rivers  unite  to  form  the  Ohio. 

In  1688  a  comparison  of  the  English  with  the  French  in 
North  America  showed  the  French  to  be  in  a  majority  by 
a  proportion  of  almost  twenty  to  one,  and  to  this  advan- 
tage of  numbers  they  continually  added  advantage  of 
position. 

Governor  Spotswood  of  Virginia,  in  1716,  alarmed  by  the 
encroachments  of  the  French,  attempted  to  break  the  line 
of  French  possessions  from  Canada  to  Louisiana  by  extend- 
ing the  English  settlements  still  farther  west.  He  examined 
the  mountain  passes,  encouraged  settlers  to  establish  them- 
selves on  the  other  side,  endeavored  to  increase  the  friendly 
relations  with  the  Indians,  and  planned  a  Virginia  Indian 

[  1  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Company  whose  profits  should  pay  for  the  maintenance  of 
frontier  defences.  But  his  project  was  treated  with  in- 
difference and  he  accomplished  nothing. 

In  1719  Governor  Keith  of  Pennsylvania  urged  upon  the 
*'  Lords  of  Trade  "  the  necessity  of  the  erection  of  a  fort 
on  Lake  Erie,  and  Lieutenant-Governor  Patrick  Gordon 
brought  the  situation  again  before  a  meeting  of  the  Pro-- 
vincial  Council,  held  at  Philadelphia,  August  fourth,  1731. 

The  minutes  of  this  Council  record  that  the  French  claims 
on  this  continent  were  "  exorbitant;  "  that  by  the  descrip- 
tion in  the  map  there  produced  "  they  claim  a  great  part 
of  Carolina  and  Virginia,  and  had  laid  down  Sasquehanna 
as  a  boundary  of  Pennsylvania, "  *  *  *  ^nd  ' '  that  by 
virtue  of  some  treaty,  as  they  allege,  the  French  pretend 
the  right  to  all  the  land  lying  on  rivers  the  mouths  of  which 
they  are  possessed;  that  the  river  Ohio  (a  branch  of  the 
Mississippi)  comes  close  to  those  mountains  which  lie  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty  or  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles 
back  of  Sasquehanna,  within  the  boundaries  of  this 
province,  as  granted  by  the  King's  Letters  Patent;  that 
adjoining  thereto  is  a  fine  tract  of  land,  called  Allegheny, 
on  which  several  Shawanese  Indians  had  seated  themselves. 
And  that  by  advices  lately  brought  to  him  by  several 
traders  in  those  parts,  it  appears  that  the  French  have  been 
using  endeavors  to  gain  over  those  Indians  to  their  inter- 
ests. "  *  *  *  It  was  further  represented  ' '  how  destructive 
this  attempt  of  the  French,  if  attended  with  success,  may 
prove  to  the  English  interests  in  this  continent  and  how 
deeply  in  its  consequences  it  may  affect  this  province," 
*  *  *  and  it  was  moved  that  "  to  prevent  or  put  a  stop 
to  these  designs  if  possible  a  treaty  should  be  set  on  foot 
with  the  Five  Nations,"  *  *  *  that  "  the  Shawanese 
may  not  only  be  kept  firm  to  the  English  interest,  but  like- 
wise be  induced  to  remove  from  Allegheny  nearer  to  the 
English  settlements.  *  *  *  and  no  opportunity  ought 
to  be  lost  of  cultivating  and  improving  the  friendship 
which  has  always  subsisted  between  this  government  and 
them."     *     *     * 

Thus  it  was  becoming  more  and  more  evident  that  if  the 
English  desired  to  extend  their  colonial  possessions  farther 

[  2  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

west,  a  binding  treaty  with  the  Indian  nations  should  be 
speedily  made.  This,  however,  was  not  accomplished  until 
the  June  of  1744,  when  Pennsylvania,  Virginia  and  Mary- 
land met  with  the  Six  Nations  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  with 
Conrad  Weiser  as  the  ''  friend  and  interpreter  "  of  the 
Indians.  "  On  the  terms  of  this  treaty  the  claims  of  the 
colonists  to  the  west  by  purchase  rested,  and  upon  this  and 
the  grant  from  the  Six  Nations  Great  Britain  relied  in  all 
subsequent  steps." 

At  this  time  a  Memorial  was  sent  to  the  Prime  Minister 
of  England,  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  representing  the  pre- 
carious situation  of  the  colonies.  He,  however,  was  so 
engrossed  with  the  European  condition  that  he  did  not  con- 
sider the  perplexities  of  the  colonists.  This  lack  of  pro- 
tection to  the  colonies  by  the  mother  country  bred  early  the 
necessity  of  independent  action  which  culminated  in  the 
Revolution. 

Governor  Spotswood's  scheme  of  settlement  having 
failed,  no  further  attempt  was  made  till  the  year  1748,  when 
a  company  denominated  ''  The  Ohio  Land  Company,"  com- 
prised of  gentlemen  of  Virginia  and  Maryland,  among 
whom  were  Lawrence  and  Augustine  Washington,  was 
organized  avowedly  to  further  the  Indian  trade,  but  for  the 
actual  purpose  of  driving  a  wedge  of  English  settlement 
west  of  the  Allegheny  mountains. 

George  the  Second,  through  the  right  of  discovery  by  the 
Cabots,  granted  to  this  company  one-half  million  acres  of 
land,  "  to  be  taken  principally  on  the  south  side  of  the  Ohio 
between  the  Monongahela  and  Kanawha."  Two  hundred 
thousand  acres  were  to  be  taken  up  at  once  and  to  be  free 
of  rents  and  taxes  to  the  King  for  ten  years,  upon  con- 
dition that  the  company  should  settle,  within  seven  years, 
'one  hundred  families  on  the  lands,  build  a  fort,  and  main- 
tain a  garrison  to  protect  the  settlement. 

News  of  this  project  drifted  to  Pennsylvania  and  French 
traders  in  the  Ohio  region,  who  had  no  desire  whatsoever 
to  see  Virginia  gain  a  foothold  and  interfere  with  their 
interest,  so  word  was  taken  to  the  Marquis  de  la  Galis- 
soniere,  Commandant  General  of  New  France  (Canada), 
who  forthwith  dispatched  M.  Celeron  de  Brienville  with 

[  3  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

an  escort  of  two  hundred  men  to  take  formal  possession  of 
the  country  in  such  manner  as  should  thereafter  give  France 
B  legal  right  thereto.  Accordingly,  Celeron  buried,  at  the 
mouths  of  the  tributary  rivers  to  the  Ohio,  leaden  plates, 
whereon  was  engraved  the  announcement  that  Louis  XV. 
held  the  country  ''  by  force  of  arms  and  by  treaties,  espe- 
cially those  of  Riswick,  of  Utrecht,  and  of  Aix-la-Chapelle. ' ' 
Celeron  also  sent  a  letter  to  Governor  Hamilton  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, dated  "  Camp  on  the  Beautiful  River,  at  an  old 
village  of  the  Shawanese,  6th  August,  1749,"  desiring  him 
to  forbid  that  region  to  English  and  Colonial  traders,  assur- 
ing Governor  Hamilton  of  his  surprise  at  finding  them 
there  trespassing  on  the  territory  of  France.  Copies  of 
this  letter  were  sent  by  three  different  traders  to  insure  its 
reaching  the  Governor.  Several  of  these  plates  have  been 
found,  the  earliest  bearing  the  date  of  July  twenty-ninth, 
1749. 

After  Celeron's  reconnoissance,  in  1750,  the  French  pro- 
ceeded to  erect  a  series  of  forts,  designed  ultimately  to 
connect  their  Canadian  possessions  with  Louisiana,  and 
did  erect  three:  the  first  on  the  present  site  of  the  city  of 
Erie;  the  second  at  what  is  now  Waterford,  and  the  third 
near  what  is  now  the  town  of  Franklin. 

The  Ohio  Land  Company,  in  1750,  sent  Christopher  Gist, 
a  surveyor,  to  explore  their  lands  on  and  about  the  Ohio 
river,  but  nothing  was  accomplished  in  the  way  of  a  settle- 
ment owing  to  the  obstacles  which  the  traders  and  the 
French  threw  in  their  way.  The  Company  concluded  that 
the  friendship  of  the  Indians  was  of  first  necessity.  In 
pursuance  of  this  policy  the  treaty  made  at  Logstown 
(about  the  present  site  of  Sewickley)  took  place  the  next 
year.  Mr.  Gist  attended  as  an  agent  for  the  Company, 
and  the  Indians  agreed  not  to  molest  any  settlements  that 
might  be  made  on  the  southeast  side  of  the  Ohio.  It  is 
remarkable,  that  in  the  debates  attending  the  negotiation  of 
this  treaty,  the  Indians  took  care  to  disclaim  a  recognition 
of  the  English  title  to  any  of  these  lands.  In  a  speech  to 
the  Commissioners,  one  of  the  old  Chiefs  said,  '^  you 
acquainted  us  yesterday  with  the  King's  right  to  all  the 
lands  in  Virginia,  as  far  as  it  is  settled,  and  back  from 

[  4  ] 


LAN         I>  4^      DV       REGNE        DE        LOVIS       XV      ROY..       1^^  .,,:y: 
FRANCE         NOVS        CELORON         COMMANDANT       ^"^^  i^  U^'y-^;-:'^,--./:^ 
TACHEMENT        ENN^OIE        PAR       MONSIEVR  LE,      M-        Dcf'      LlA  '  ' 

CALtSSONiERE      ,   COMMANDANT         GENERAL       DE      LA  ^    ^, 

NOVVELLE         IvRANCE         POYR        RETABLIR         LA     TRAN^viLJ^JTE  ; 
DANS       HVELHVES  ^     VILLAGES        SAUVAGES        DE       C.E.S  ,""  CANrOM5 
AV0N5       ENTERRE         CETTE         PLA^VE        A  LENTR  E  E   DE  1/V  /./%^^ 
RIUfERE    CHINODAHICHETHA    LE    ISAOUST  ^■■■•■'^'  ■    ■'■:l|§ 

FRC?  DE  LA  RIVIERE,  6Y(3_aUTREMENT  BELLE'  ^-fe 
R-IVIERE  POVR  MONVMENT  d'v  "  R  ENO  V  VELLEME  N  T  .  DE.'^V^^^^^ 
POSSESSION         gVE        NOVS       AVONS     :  PRIS         DE        l^A        DITTEJ:0:^ 


RIVIERE        OYO        ET 


TOVTES        CELLES        *IVi       Y     TOMBI<?"r 


E'T      DE      TOVES       LES       TERRES       DES        DEVX        GQJE5  J  VS^  VE  ^s- 
AVX        SOVFCES       DES        DITTES       RlviES         VINSf    ylVEIC*,     ONT 
lOVY        OV      pV      JOVIR       LES       PRECEDENTS       R(SXS         DE       FRANCE 
^ET_^     ^VILS        sisONT       MAINTENVS        PAR        LE5^-,5i-ARMES  ^ET 
PAR      LES        TRAITTES  ■     SPECIALEMENT        PAR^;  t  EVX      ,    ,0  E 
RISVVICK       DVTRGHT     .  ET       DAIX       LA        CHPELLe' /  ,^    :^,    '^        ^ 


RELIC  OF  THE  FRENCH  DOMINATION,  FOUND  at  POINT  PLEASANT,  BURIED  IN 
THE  SUMMER  OF  17-19. 

■'  In  the  year  1749,  in  the  reign  of  Louis  XV.,  King  of  France,  we,  Celoron,  commandant  of  a  detachment 
sent  by  the  Marquis  de  la  Gallssoniere,  commandant  general  of  New  France,  to  re-establish  tranquility  in  some 
Indian  towns  in  these  departments,  have  buried  this  plate  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  *  Chinodahichetha,  this 
18th  day  of  August,  near  the  river  Ohio,  otherwise  called  Beautiful  River,  as  a  memorial  of  the  resumption 
of  possession  we  have  made  of  the  said  river  Ohio,  and  all  those  that  fall  into  it,  and  of  all  the  lands  on  both 
sides  up  to  the  sources  of  the  said  rivers,  the  same  as  the  preceding  Kings  of  France  have  enjoyed  or  were  en- 
titled to  enjoy,  and  as  they  are  established  by  arms  and  by  treaties,  especially  by  t]iose  of  Ryswick,  Utrecht, 
and  Aix-la-Chapelle."  —  Translated  from  the  French. 

It  is  a  lead  plate  about  nine  inches  in  breadth,  twelve  or  fourteen  in  length,  and  near  an  eighth  of  an  inch  in 
thickness.  The  inscription  appears  evidently  to  have  been  made  by  stamps.  These  appear  to  have  been  en- 
graved with  a  knife  or  instrument  for  that  purpose,  and  are  of  thesame  size  and  shape  of  the  stamped  letters 
made  in  France  with  others  similar,  expressly  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  memorials  of  their  claims. 

*  "  Chinodahichetha  "  is  doubtless  the  Indian  name  of  the  river  now  known  as  the  Great  Kanawha. 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

thence  to  the  sunsetting,  whenever  he  shall  think  fit  to 
extend  his  settlements.  You  produce,  also,  a  copy  of  his 
deed  from  the  Onondaga  council,  at  the  Treaty  of  Lancaster, 
1744,  and  desire  that  your  Brethren  of  the  Ohio  might  like- 
wise concur  in  the  deed.  We  are  well  acquainted  that  our 
Chief  Council  at  the  Treaty  of  Lancaster  confirmed  a  deed 
to  you  for  a  quantity  of  land  in  Virginia,  which  you  have 
a  right  to;  but  we  never  understood,  before  you  told  us 
yesterday,  that  the  lands  then  sold  were  to  extend  farther 
to  the  sunsetting  than  the  hill  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Allegheny  hill,  so  that  we  can  give  you  no  further  answer. ' ' 
This  treaty  was  concluded  June  thirteenth,  1752.  Colonel 
Joshua  Fry,  Colonel  Lunsford  Lomar,  and  Colonel  James 
Patten  were  present  in  the  interest  of  Virginia. 

In  the  meantime  some  of  the  original  twenty  shares  of 
the  Ohio  Company  changed  hands  and  Governor  Dinwiddle 
became  a  proprietor.  When,  therefore,  during  the  spring 
and  summer  of  1753  various  intelligences  were  received  of 
French  and  Indians,  coming  down  in  numbers  about  the 
head  of  the  Ohio,  thereby  endangering  the  holdings  of  the 
Company,  he  sent  George  Washington  to  deliver  a  letter 
to  the  Commandant  of  the  French  forces  on  the  Ohio. 

Washington,  at  the  time  of  his  appointment  by  Governor 
Dinwiddle,  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  and  this  was  his 
first  commission ;  thus  the  foundation  of  Pittsburgh  has  the 
unique  honor  of  being  connected  with  the  first  notable  ser- 
vice of  Washington's  career. 

Because  of  the  interest  of  this  journey.  Governor  Din- 
widdle's Letter  of  Instruction  is  given  in  full;  also  extracts 
from  Washington's  journal  of  his  expedition: 

"  Whereas  I  have  received  information  of  a  body  of  French 
forces  being  assembled  in  a  hostile  manner  on  the  river  Ohio, 
intending  by  force  of  arms  to  erect  certain  forts  on  the  said  river 
within  this  territory,  and  contrary  to  the  dignity  and  peace  of 
our  Sovereign,  the  King  of  Great  Britain; 

"  These  are,  therefore,  to  require  and  direct  you,  the  said 
George  Washington,  forthwith  to  repair  to  Logstown  on  the  said 
river  Ohio;  and  having  there  informed  yourself  where  the  said 
French  forces  have  posted  themselves,  thereon  to  proceed  to  such 

[  5  ] 


THE  HISTOEY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

place;  and,  being  there  arrived,  to  present  your  credentials,  with 
my  letter  to  the  chief  Commanding  Officer  and  in  the  name  of 
His  Britannic  Majesty  to  demand  an  answer  thereto. 

"  On  your  arrival  at  Logsto^vn  you  are  to  address  yourself  to 
Half-King,  to  Monacatoocha,  and  to  the  other  sachems  of  the 
Six  Nations,  acquainting  them  with  your  orders  to  visit  and  de- 
liver my  letter  to  the  French  Commanding  Officer,  and  desiring 
the  said  chiefs  to  appoint  you  a  sufficient  number  of  their  warriors 
to  be  your  safe  guard  as  near  the  French  as  you  may  desire,  and 
await  your  further  direction. 

"  You  are  diligently  to  inquire  into  the  number  and  force  of 
the  French  on  the  Ohio  and  the  adjacent  country;  how  they  are 
likely  to  be  assisted  from  Canada ;  and  what  are  the  difficulties 
and  conveniences  of  that  communication,  and  the  time  required 
for  it. 

"  You  are  to  take  care  to  be  truly  informed  what  forts  the 
French  have  erected  and  where ;  how  they  are  garrisoned  and 
appointed,  and  what  is  their  distance  from  each  other  and  from 
Logstown;  and  from  the  best  intelligence  you  can  procure  you 
are  to  learn  what  gave  occasion  to  this  expedition  of  the  French ; 
how  they  are  likely  to  be  supported  and  what  their  pretensions  are. 

"  When  the  French  Commandant  has  given  you  the  required 
and  necessary  dispatches  you  are  to  desire  of  him  a  proper  guard 
to  protect  you  as  far  on  your  return,  as  you  may  judge  for  your 
safety,  against  any  straggling  Indians  or  hunters,  that  may  be 
ignorant  of  your  character  and  molest  you. 

"  Wishing  you  good  success  in  your  negotiation,  and  safe  and 
speedy  return,  I  am,  etc., 

"  ROBERT  DINWIDDIE. 

"  WiLLiAMSBUKG,  SOtJi  of  Octoher,  1753." 

"  To  George  WasJiington  Esquire,  one  of  the  Adjutants-General 
of  the  Troops  and  Forces  in  the  Colony  of  Virginia: 
"  1,  reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in  the  ability,  con- 
duct and  fidelity  of  the  said  George  Washington,  have  appointed 
you  my  express  messenger;  and  you  are  hereby  authorized  and 
empowered  to  proceed  hence,  with  all  convenience  and  possible 
dispatch  to  the  part  or  place  on  the  river  Ohio,  where  the  French 
have  lately  erected  a  fort  or  forts  or  where  the  commandant  of 
the  French  forces  resides,  in  order  to  deliver  a  message  to  him; 

[  6  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

and  after  waiting  not  exceeding  one  week  for  an  answer,  you  are 
to  take  your  leave  and  return  immediately  back. 

"  To  this  commission  I  have  set  my  hand,  and  caused  the  great 
seal  of  this  Dominion  to  be  affixed,  at  the  City  of  Williamsburg, 
the  seat  of  my  government,  this  30th  day  of  October,  in  the 
twenty-seventh  year  of  the  reign  of  his  Majesty,  George  the 
Second,  King  of  Great  Britain,  etc.,  etc.,  Anno-que  Domini  1753. 

"  ROBERT  DINWIDDIE." 

''  To  all  to  whom  these  presents  may  come  or  concern,  Greeting: 

"  Whereas  I  have  appointed  George  Washington  Esquire  by 
commission  under  the  great  seal  my  express  messenger  to  the 
commandant  of  the  French  Forces  on  the  river  Ohio  and  as  he  is 
charged  with  business  of  great  importance  to  his  Majesty  and 
this  Dominion: 

"  I  do  hereby  command  all  His  Majesty's  subjects,  and  par- 
ticularly require  all  in  alliance  and  amity  with  the  Crown  of 
Great  Britain,  and  all  others  to  whom  this  passport  may  come, 
agreeably  to  the  law  of  ISTations,  to  be  aiding  and  assisting  as  a 
safeguard  to  the  said  George  Washington  and  his  attendants,  in. 
his  present  passage  to  and  from  the  Ohio  river  aforesaid. 

"  ROBERT  DINWIDDIE." 

"  To  the  Lords  of  the  Board  of  Trade  : 

"  Right  Honokable.  —  My  last  to  you  was  on  the  16th  of 
June  to  which  I  beg  you  to  be  referred.  In  that  I  acquainted 
you  of  the  accounts  we  have  had  of  the  French,  with  the  Indians 
in  their  interest,  invading  his  Majesty's  lands  on  the  river  Ohio. 

"  The  person  sent  as  a  commissioner  to  the  commandant  of 
the  French  forces  neglected  his  duty  and  went  no  further  than 
Logstown  on  the  Ohio.  He  reports  that  the  French  were  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  farther  up  that  river,  and  I  believe  was 
afraid  to  go  to  them.  On  the  application  of  the  Indians  in 
friendship  with  us  on  the  Ohio  I  sent  Mr.  William  Trent  with 
guns,  powder,  and  shot  to  them,  with  some  clothing;  and  enclosed 
I  send  you  his  report  and  conferences  with  these  people,  on  his 
delivering  them  the  present. 

"  I  have  received  by  a  Man-of-War  sloop,  orders  from  the 
Right  Honorable  Earl  of  Ilolderness,  and  instructions  from  his 

[  7  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Majesty.  In  consequence  thereof ^  I  have  sent  one  of  the  adjutants 
of  militia,  George  Washington,  out  to  the  Commander  of  the 
French  forces,  to  know  their  intentions  and  by  what  authority 
they  presume  to  invade  His  Majesty's  Dominions  in  the  time  of 
tranquil  peace.  When  he  returns  I  shall  transmit  you  an  account 
of  his  proceedings  and  the  French  commander's  answer. 

"  Your  Lordships,  etc., 

"  ROBERT  DINWIDDIE." 

Extracts  from  Washington's  Journal  of  a  Tour  over  the 
Allegheny  mountains : 

"  I  was  commissioned  and  appointed  by  the  Honorable  Robert 
Dinwiddle,  Esquire,  Governor,  etc.,  of  Virginia,  to  visit  and 
deliver  a  letter  to  the  commandant  of  the  French  forces  at  the 
Ohio,  and  set  out  on  the  intended  journey  on  the  same  day 
(October  31st,  1Y53)  ;  the  next  I  arrived  at  Fredericksburg  and 
engaged  Mr.  Jacob  Vanbraam  to  be  my  French  interpreter  and 
proceeded  with  him  to  Alexandria,  where  we  provided  necessaries. 
From  thence  we  went  to  Winchester  (Virginia)  and  got  baggage, 
horses,  etc.,  and  from  thence  we  pursued  the  new  road  to  Will's 
Creek  where  we  arrived  on  the  14th  of  ]!^ovember.  Here  I 
engaged  Mr.  Gist  to  pilot  us  out  and  also  hired  four  others  as 
servitors,  Barnaby  Currin,  and  John  McQuire  Indian  traders; 
Henry  Steward  and  William  Jenkins;  and  in  company  with 
these  persons  left  the  inhabitants  the  next  day.  The  excessive 
rains  and  vast  quantities  of  snow  which  had  fallen  prevented  our 
reaching  Mr.  Frazier's  at  the  mouth  of  Turtle  creek  on  Monon- 
gahela  river  till  Thursday,  the  22nd  (ISTovember).  We  were 
informed  here  that  expresses  had  been  sent  a  few  days  before 
to  the  traders  down  the  river  to  acquaint  them  with  the  French 
General's  death  and  the  return  of  the  major  part  of  the  French 
army  into  winter  quarters.  The  waters  were  quite  impassable 
without  swimming  our  horses  which  obliged  us  to  get  the  loan  of 
a  canoe  from  Frazier  and  to  send  Barnaby  Currin  and  Henry 
Steward  down  the  Monongahela  with  our  baggage,  to  meet  us 
at  the  forks  of  the  Ohio,  about  ten  miles  below,  there  to  cross  the 
Allegheny.  As  I  got  down  before  the  canoe  I  spent  some  time 
in  viewing  the  rivers,  and  the  land  in  the  fork,  which  I  think 
extremely  well  situated  for  a  fort,  as  it  has  the  absolute  command 
of  both  rivers.      The  land  at  the  point  is  about  twenty-five  feet 

[  8  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

above  the  common  surface  of  the  water,  and  a  considerable  bottom 
of  flat  well  timbered  land  all  around  it  very  convenient  for  build- 
ing. About  two  miles  from  this,  at  the  place  where  the  Ohio 
Company  intended  to  erect  a  fort,  lives  Shingiss,  King  of  the 
Delawares.  We  called  upon  him  to  invite  him  to  a  Council  at 
Logstown.  As  I  had  taken  a  good  deal  of  notice  yesterday  of  the 
situation  at  the  fork,  my  curiosity  led  me  to  examine  this  more 
particularly,  and  I  think  it  greatly  inferior,  either  for  defense 
or  advantages ;  especially  the  latter.  For  a  fort  at  the  fork  would 
be  equally  well  situated  on  the  Ohio,  and  have  the  entire  command 
of  the  Monongahela,  which  runs  up  our  settlement,  and  is 
extremely  well  designed  for  water  carriage,  as  it  is  of  a  deep  still 
nature.  Besides,  a  fort  at  the  fork  might  be  built  at  much  less 
expense  than  at  the  other  place." 

"Washington  found  the  Indians  in  this  neighborhood  ap- 
prehensive. Half -King  (Tanacharison),  who  was  friendly 
to  the  English,  told  Washington  he  had  already  made 
known  to  the  French  Father  at  Venango  that  this  was 
Indian  land,  not  French,  saying:  ''  If  you  had  come  in  a 
peaceable  manner,  like  our  brothers,  the  English,  we  would 
not  have  been  against  your  trading  with  us  as  they  do; 
but  to  come,  fathers,  and  build  houses  upon  our  land  and 
take  it  by  force  is  what  we  cannot  submit  to. 

' '  Fathers,  both  you  and  the  English  are  white,  we  live  in 
a  country  between,  therefore  the  land  belongs  to  neither 
the  one  nor  the  other,  but  the  Great  Being  above  allowed 
it  to  be  a  place  of  residence  for  us ;  so.  Father,  I  desire  you 
to  withdraw,  as  I  have  done  our  brothers  the  English,  for 
I  will  keep  you  at  arms  length.  I  lay  this  down  as  a  trial 
for  both  to  see  which  will  have  the  greatest  regard  to  it, 
and  that  side  we  will  stand  by  and  make  equal  sharers  with 
us.  Our  brothers,  the  English,  have  heard  this,  and  I  come 
now  to  tell  it  to  you,  for  I  am  not  afraid  to  discharge  you 
off  this  land. ' ' 

After  some  days  delay  Washington  finally  added  to  his 
party  Half -King,  who  took  with  him  the  French  speech-belt 
that  he  might  return  it,  thus  intending  to  break  off  friendly 
intercourse  with  the  French;  Jeskakake,  WTiite  Thunder, 
and  the  Hunter  (the  famous  Guyasuta)  started  on  the  road 

[  9  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

to  Venango,  where  they  arrived  the  fourth  of  December, 
''  without  anything  remarkable  happening  but  a  series  of 
bad  weather."  "  We  found  the  French  colors  hoisted  at 
a  house  from  which  they  had  driven  Mr.  John  Frazier,  an 
English  subject.  I  immediately  repaired  to  it  to  know 
where  the  Commandant  resided.  There  were  three  officers, 
one  of  whom,  Captain  Joncaire,  informed  me  that  he  had 
the  command  of  the  Ohio,  but  that  there  was  a  general 
officer  at  the  near  fort  (Le  Boeuf)  where  he  advised  me 
to  apply  for  an  answer.  He  invited  us  to  sup  with  him 
and  treated  us  with  great  complaisance.  The  wine,  as 
they  dosed  themselves  pretty  plentifully  with  it,  soon 
banished  the  restraint  which  at  first  appeared  in  their  con- 
versation, and  gave  a  license  to  their  tongues  to  reveal 
their  sentiments  more  freely.  They  told  me  that  it  was 
their  absolute  design  to  take  possession  of  the  Ohio,  and, 
by  G-D,  they  would  do  it;  for  that,  although  they  were 
sensible  the  English  could  raise  two  men  for  their  one,  yet 
they  knew  their  motions  were  too  slow  and  dilatory  to 
prevent  any  undertaking  of  theirs." 

On  the  seventh  he  wrote :  ' '  We  found  it  extremely  diffi- 
cult to  get  the  Indians  off  to-day  as  every  stratagem  had 
been  used  to  prevent  their  going  up  with  me  *  *  *  At 
twelve  o'clock  we  set  out  for  the  fort  and  were  prevented 
arriving  there  until  the  eleventh  by  excessive  rains,  snows 
and  bad  travelling  through  many  mires  and  swamps. ' ' 

The  twelfth,  at  Le  Boeuf:  ''  I  prepared  early  to  wait 
upon  the  commander,  and  was  received  and  conducted  to 
him  by  the  second  officer  in  command.  I  acquainted  him 
with  my  business  and  offered  my  commission  and  letter. 
*  *  *  The  commander  is  a  knight  of  the  military  order 
of  St.  Louis  and  named  Legardeur  de  St.  Pierre.  He  is  an 
elderly  gentleman  and  has  the  air  of  a  soldier." 

Fourteenth:  "As  the  snow  increased  very  fast  and  our 
horses  daily  became  weaker,  I  sent  them  off  unloaded,  under 
the  care  of  Barnaby  Currin  and  two  others,  to  make  all 
convenient  dispatch  to  Venango  and  there  to  wait  our 
arrival,  if  there  was  a  prospect  of  the  rivers  freezing;  if 
not,  then  to  continue  down  to  Shanapin's  town  at  the  forks 
of  Ohio  and  there  to  wait  until  we  came  cross  the  Allegheny ; 

[  10  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

intending  myself  to  go  down  by  water,  as  I  had  the  offer  of 
a  canoe  or  two. 

''As  I  found  many  plots  concerted  to  retard  the  Indians' 
business,  and  prevent  their  returning  with  me,  I  endeavored, 
all  that  lay  in  my  power,  to  frustrate  their  (the  French) 
schemes,  and  hurried  the  Indians  on  to  execute  their 
intended  design.  They  accordingly  pressed  for  admittance 
this  evening,  which  at  length  was  granted  them  privately 
to  the  commander  and  one  or  two  other  officers.  The 
Half -King  told  me  that  he  offered  the  wampum  (speech- 
belt)  to  the  commander,  who  evaded  taking  it,  and  made 
many  fair  promises  of  love  and  friendship,  said  he  wanted 
to  live  in  peace  and  trade  amicably  with  them,  as  a  proof 
of  which  he  would  send  some  goods  down  to  the  Logstown 
for  them.  But  I  rather  think  the  design  of  that  is  to  bring 
away  all  our  straggling  traders  they  meet  with,  as  I 
privately  understood  they  intended  to  carry  an  officer,  etc., 
with  them.  And  what  rather  confirms  this  opinion :  I  was 
inquiring  of  the  commander  by  what  authority  he  had 
made  prisoners  of  several  of  our  English  subjects.  He 
told  me  that  the  country  belonged  to  them ;  that  no  English- 
man had  a  right  to  trade  upon  those  waters;  and  that  he 
had  orders  to  make  every  person  prisoner  who  attempted 
it  on  the  Ohio,  or  the  waters  of  it  *  *  *  This  evening  I 
received  an  answer  to  his  Honor  the  Governor's  letter  from 
the  commandant." 

Fifteenth:  ''  The  commandant  ordered  a  plentiful  store 
of  liquor,  provision,  etc.,  to  be  put  on  board  our  canoes, 
and  appeared  to  be  extremely  complaisant,  though  he  was 
exerting  every  artifice  which  he  could  invent  to  set  our 
Indians  at  variance  with  us,  to  prevent  their  going  until 
after  our  departure;  presents,  rewards  and  everything 
which  could  be  suggested  by  him  or  his  officers.  I  cannot 
say  that  ever  in  my  life  I  suffered  so  much  anxiety  as  I 
did  in  this  affair;  I  saw  that  every  stratagem  which  the 
most  fruitful  brain  could  invent  was  practised  to  win  the 
Half -King  to  their  interest.'" 

On  the  next  day,  however,  after  much  urging,  the  Indians 
set  off  for  Venango  with  Governor  Dinwiddle 's  young  mes- 
senger, reaching  that  place  on  the  twenty-second,  after  a 

[  11  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

tedious,  fatiguing  journey.  Here  again  Captain  Joncaire 
tried  to  disaffeet  Half-King,  who  insisted  to  Washington, 
however,  that  he  knew  the  French  only  too  well  and  would 
surely  leave  in  a  day  or  two,  bringing  with  him  White 
Thunder,  who  was  hurt,  by  way  of  the  river.  Washington 
further  said  in  his  Journal :  "As  I  was  uneasy  to  get  back, 
to  make  report  of  my  proceedings  to  his  Honor  the  Gov- 
ernor, I  determined  to  prosecute  my  journey,  the  nearest 
way  through  the  woods,  on  foot.  Accordingly  I  left  Mr. 
Vanbraam  in  charge  of  our  baggage.  *  *  *  I  took  my 
necessary  papers,  pulled  off  my  clothes  and  tied  myself 
up  in  a  watch  coat.  Then  with  gun  in  hand  and  pack  on 
my  back,  in  which  were  my  papers  and  provisions,  I  set  out 
with  Mr.  Gist  fitted  in  the  same  manner,  on  Wednesday  the 
twenty-sixth.  The  next  day  we  continued  travelling  until 
quite  dark,  and  got  to  the  river  about  two  miles  above 
Shanapin's.  We  expected  to  have  found  the  river  frozen, 
but  it  was  not  only  about  fifty  yards  from  each  shore.  The 
ice  I  suppose  had  broken  above  us  for  it  was  driving  in 
v&jt  quantities.  There  was  no  way  of  getting  over  but 
on  a  raft ;  which  we  set  about  with  but  one  poor  hatchet  and 
finished  just  after  sunsetting.  This  was  a  whole  day's 
work;  we  next  got  it  launched,  then  went  on  board  of  it 
and  set  off;  but  when  we  were  about  half  way  over,  we 
were  jammed  in  the  ice  in  such  a  manner  that  we  expected 
every  moment  our  raft  to  sink  and  ourselves  to  perish. 
I  put  out  my  setting  pole  to  try  to  stop  the  raft,  that  the 
ice  might  pass  by;  when  the  rapidity  of  the  stream  threw 
it  with  so  much  violence  against  the  pole,  that  it  jerked  me 
out  into  ten  feet  of  water;  but  I  fortunately  saved  myself 
by  catching  hold  of  one  of  the  raft  logs.  Notwithstanding 
all  our  efforts,  we  could  not  get  to  either  shore,  but  were 
obliged,  as  we  were  near  an  island,  (Wainright's,  long  since 
washed  away),  to  quit  our  raft  and  make  to  it." 

On  the  sixth  of  January,  1754,  Washington  wrote :  ' '  We 
met  seventeen  horses  loaded  with  materials  and  stores  for 
a  fort  at  the  fork  of  the  Ohio,  and  the  day  after  some 
families  going  out  to  settle.  This  day  we  arrived  at  Will 's 
Creek. ' ' 

On    the    sixteenth    of    February     (1754),    Washington 

[  12  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

arrived  at  Williamsburg  and  waited  upon  Governor  Din- 
widdle with  the  letter  from  the  French  Commandant,  and 
offered  with  it  his  journal.  This  journal  was  published 
widely  and  even  sent  to  London  to  show  the  position  taken 
by  the  French  and  to  stir  the  English  to  action.  St.  Pierre 
in  his  letter  assured  Governor  Dinwiddle  that  his  letter 
should  be  given  to  the  Marquis  Du  Quesne,  '^  to  whom  it 
better  belongs  than  to  me  to  set  forth  the  evidence  and 
reality  of  the  rights  of  the  King,  my  master,  upon  the  lands 
situated  along  the  Ohio  and  to  contest  the  pretensions  of 
the  King  of  Great  Britain  thereto.  His  answer  shall  be 
a  law  to  me  *  *  *  As  to  the  summons  to  retire  you  send 
me,  I  do  not  think  myself  obliged  to  obey  it.  Whatever 
may  be  your  instructions,  I  am  here  by  virtue  of  the  orders 
of  my  general,  and  I  entreat  you  sir  not  to  doubt  one 
moment  but  that  I  am  determined  to  conform  myself  to 
them  with  all  the  exactness  and  resolution  which  can  be 
expected  from  the  best  officer  *  *  *  j  made  it  my  par- 
ticular care  to  receive  Mr.  Washington  with  the  distinction 
suitable  to  your  dignity,  as  well  as  his  own  quality  and 
merit.  I  flatter  myself  he  will  do  me  this  justice  before 
you,  sir,  and  that  he  will  signify  to  you,  in  the  manner  I  do 
myself,  the  profound  respect  with  which  I  am,  sir,  etc. ' ' 

This  made  it  entirely  clear  to  Governor  Dinwiddle  and 
the  Ohio  Company  that  the  French  intended  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  lands  on  the  Ohio  and  its  tributaries  as  soon  as 
it  could  be  accomplished. 

After  the  return  of  Washington  from  his  journey  to  the 
French  commander,  at  Fort  Le  Boeuf,  and  his  report  to 
Governor  Dinwiddle,  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses 
made  a  grant  of  ten  thousand  pounds  for  the  protection  of 
the  frontier.  Washington,  who  had  been  stationed  at 
Alexandria,  to  enlist  recruits,  received  from  Dinwiddle  a 
commission  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  orders,  ^'  with  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  to  take  command  at  the  forks  of  the 
Ohio,  to  finish  the  fort  already  begun  there  by  the  Ohio 
Company,  and  to  make  prisoners,  kill  or  destroy  all  who 
interrupted  the  English  settlements."  Officers  and  men 
were  promised  two  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land  on  the 
Ohio. 

[  13  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

It  was  the  opinion  in  England  that  the  Colonies  should 
combine  to  defend  the  frontier,  and  efforts  were  made  to 
hold  a  Convention  of  the  Provinces  for  that  purpose,  but 
want  of  foresight  and  intercolonial  jealousies  prevented 
any  progress  in  this  matter  until  later  in  the  year.  Penn- 
sylvania, like  Maryland,  fell  into  strife  with  its  pro- 
prietaries, and,  indignant  at  their  lack  of  liberality,  made 
no  grant  although  the  French  were  within  their  borders. 
Virginia  was  thus  the  only  colony  that  made  any  special 
effort  to  take  possession  of  the  Ohio  country  at  this  time. 

The  Ohio  Land  Company  had,  in  the  previous  January, 
made  preparations  for  occupying  the  territory  at  the 
junction  of  the  Allegheny  and  Monongahela  rivers.  To 
aid  this  enterprise  Governor  Dinwiddle  authorized  the 
formation  of  a  company  of  militia  under  the  command  of 
Captain  William  Trent;  John  Frazier,  the  Indian  trader, 
residing  at  Turtle  Creek  on  the  Monongahela,  being 
appointed  Lieutenant,  and  Edward  Ward,  Ensign,  Trent 
was  at  this  time  engaged  in  building  a  log  storehouse  at 
Redstone  (now  Brownsville,  Pa.).  On  receiving  orders 
to  raise  one  hundred  men  he  returned  to  Virginia  for  that 
purpose.  He  started  west  with  only  forty  men  intending  to 
recruit  the  remainder  on  the  journey.  In  this  he  was  dis- 
appointed. His  route  was  by  Christopher  Gist's,  the  Red- 
stone trail  to  the  mouth  of  the  Redstone  creek,  and  from 
thence  to  the  forks  of  the  Ohio,  where  he  arrived  on  the 
seventeenth  of  February,  1754,  and  on  the  point  bounded 
by  the  Allegheny  and  Monongahela  rivers  commenced  im- 
mediately the  building  of  a  stockade  or  small  fort  of 
squared  logs. 

A  few  weeks  later  Captain  Trent  was  obliged  to  return 
to  Will's  Creek,  on  the  other  side  of  the  mountain,  for 
provisions,  and,  Lieutenant  Frazier  being  absent.  Ensign 
Ward  was  left  in  command,  when  on  the  sixteenth  of  April 
the  French,  under  Contrecoeur,  came  down  from  the  north 
and  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  post.  Resistance  being 
useless,  Ward  withdrew,  and  with  his  party  returned  to 
Redstone. 

Washington  arrived  at  Will's  Creek  on  the  twentieth  of 
April,  and  two  days  later  Ensign  Ward  arrived,  announcing 
his  surrender. 

[  14  ] 


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FRONTIER  TIMES 

Later,  a  full  account  of  the  affair  was  given  under  oath 
by  Ensign  Ward  to  Governor  Dinwiddie,  who  transmitted 
it  to  the  British  government.  This  remote  event  has  been 
considered  the  commencement  of  the  memorable  ''  Seven 
Years  War, ' '  which  was  terminated  by  the  Treaty  of  Paris, 
1763,  by  which  Prance  lost  all  her  territory  in  North 
America,  with  the  exception  of  the  Isle  of  Orleans. 

The  commencement  of  this  fort  by  the  Ohio  Land  Com- 
pany under  Trent,  and  its  completion  by  the  French  under 
Contrecoeur,  may  be  considered  the  first  settlement  at  Pitts- 
burgh. Contrecoeur  named  the  fort  ''  Duquesne,"  in 
honor  of  the  Governor-General  of  Canada,  the  Marquis  Du 
Quesne,  a  grand  nephew  of  Abraham  Du  Quesne,  the  famous 
Admiral  of  Louis  XIV. 

The  surrender  of  the  post  was  immediately  reported  by 
Washington  to  the  Governors  of  Virginia,  Maryland,  and 
Pennsylvania  with  requests  for  reinforcements.  In  the 
meantime,  after  consultation  with  his  brother  officers, 
Washington  resolved  to  advance  and  endeavor  to  reach  the 
Monongahela  river  in  the  vicinity  of  Redstone  creek,  and 
there  erect  a  fortification. 

On  the  ninth  of  May,  1754,  with  three  companies,  he 
arrived  at  "  Little  Meadows,"  which  was  about  one-third 
the  distance  to  Redstone  creek  and  about  half  the  distance 
to  ^'  Great  Meadows,"  where  the  information  awaited  him 
that  ContreccEur  had  been  reinforced  by  eight  hundred  men. 
He  encamped  on  the  Youghiogheny  near  the  present  site  of 
Smithfield,  Fayette  county,  where,  in  a  few  days,  a  messen- 
ger from  Half-King  arrived  with  the  information  that  the 
French  were  about  to  attack  him.  Other  messages  were 
received  at  the  same  time  reporting  the  enemy  in  the 
immediate  vicinity. 

Washington  at  once  put  his  ammunition  in  a  place  of 
safety  and  set  out  during  the  night  with  forty  men  to  reach 
Half-King.  Upon  arriving  a  council  was  immediately  held 
and  it  was  decided  to  join  forces  and  attack  the  enemy, 
marching  in  single  file,  according  to  Indian  custom. 

Early  the  next  morning  a  skirmish  took  place  which 
resulted  in  a  complete  victory  for  Washington  and  the 
death  of  Jumonville,  the  French  commander. 

[  15  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

This  brief  encounter,  though  insignificant  in  itself,  was 
of  importance,  as  it  was  the  first  exchange  of  fire  in  that 
long  struggle,  the  French  and  Indian  war.  It  also  marks 
the  first  military  engagement  of  Washington. 

The  account  of  this  action  is  taken  from  Washington's 
official  reports,  which  were  sent  by  Governor  Dinwiddle  to 
the  English  government,  and  is  corroborated  by  extracts 
from  Washington's  private  journal  captured  by  the  French 
at  Braddock's  defeat  a  year  later  and  published  by  the 
French  government.  Contrecoeur's  account  to  Du  Quesne, 
in  a  letter  dated  June  second,  1754,  is  entirely  different, 
claiming  that  Jumonville  and  his  party  were  sent  out  as  an 
envoy  and  that  Washington  had  fired  on  them;  but  from 
the  evidence  of  those  engaged  on  the  English  side  the 
actions  of  Jumonville  hardly  conformed  to  those  of  an  en- 
voy. England  claimed  that  a  state  of  war  had  existed  since 
the  capitulation  of  Ensign  Ward  to  the  French  on  the  seven- 
teenth of  the  previous  April,  and  that  Washington  was  but 
obeying  the  order  of  his  superior  ' '  to  clear  the  Ohio  head- 
waters of  French  invaders." 

Washington,  with  about  four  hundred  men,  now  pro- 
ceeded to  enlarge  and  fortify  the  stockade  which  protected 
his  stores  and  ammunition,  calling  it  Fort  Necessity,  and 
appealed  for  additional  troops ;  but  none  came,  excej^ting  an 
independent  company  from  South  Carolina,  under  Captain 
Mackay,  who  resented  Washington's  position  as  command- 
ing officer,  and  in  consequence  did  practically  nothing. 

Meantime,  the  French  at  Duquesne  were  hastening  to 
make  good  their  loss  at  "  Little  Meadows."  On  the  third 
of  July,  1754,  six  or  seven  hundred  French,  led  by  Villiers, 
brother  to  Jumonville,  with  about  a  hundred  Indians,  took 
up  an  advantageous  position  and  opened  fire  on  Fort 
Necessity.  The  engagement  was  sharp  throughout,  and 
after  about  nine  hours,  his  ammunition  being  practically 
exhausted,  Washington  was  compelled  to  accede  to  Villiers' 
summons  to  a  conference.  The  terms  of  the  capitulation 
were  misrepresented  to  Washington,  who  did  not  under- 
stand French,  and  he  accepted  them,  and  in  accordance 
therewith,  on  the  fourth  of  July,  1754,  the  English  with- 
drew from  Fort  Necessity,  taking  with  them  such  of  their 

[  16  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

effects  as  were  possible,  but  leaving  Captains  Stobo  and 
Vanbraam  as  hostages. 

Such  was  the  outcome  of  the  first  attempt  of  the  English, 
more  exactly  speaking,  the  Virginians,  in  the  interest  of  the 
Ohio  Land  Company,  to  hold  the  country  on  and  about  the 
headwaters  of  the  Ohio;  and  the  French  had  seemingly 
demonstrated  that  the  eastern  mountains  were  the  western 
boundary  of  English  dominion  in  North  America. 

Governor  Dinwiddle  received  a  letter  from  Captain 
Robert  Stobo  during  his  imprisonment  in  Fort  Duquesne 
which  gave  the  Virginians  the  only  accurate  information 
regarding  the  garrison  there  and  the  description  of  the 
fort  itself.  In  a  letter  dated  July  twenty-eighth,  1754, 
he  wrote: 

''  *  *  *  I  send  this  by  Monakatoocha's  brother-in- 
law,  a  worthy  fellow,  and  may  be  trusted.  On  the  other 
side  you  have  a  draft  of  the  Fort,  such  as  time  and  oppor- 
tunity would  admit  of  at  this  time.  The  garrison  consists 
of  two  hundred  workmen,  and  all  the  rest  went  in  several 
detachments,  to  the  number  of  one  thousand,  two  days 
hence.  Mercier,  a  fine  soldier,  goes  so  that  Contrecoeur, 
with  a  few  young  officers  and  cadets,  remain  here.  A 
lieutenant  went  otf  some  days  ago,  with  two  hundred  men, 
for  provisions.  He  is  daily  expected.  When  he  arrives, 
the  garrison  will.  La  Force  is  greatly  wanted  here  —  no 
scouting  now.  He  certainly  must  have  been  an  extraor- 
dinary man  amongst  them  —  he  is  so  much  regretted  and 
wished  for.  *  *  *  Consider  the  good  of  the  expedition, 
without  the  least  regard  for  us.  For  my  part  I  would  die 
a  thousand  deaths,  to  have  the  pleasure  of  possessing  this 
fort  but  one  day.  They  are  so  vain  of  their  success  at  the 
Meadows,  it  is  worse  than  death  to  hear  them.  Strike  this 
fall  as  soon  as  possible.  Make  the  Indians  ours.  Prevent 
intelligence.  *  *  *  Qne  hundred  trusty  Indians  might 
surprise  this  fort.  They  have  access  all  day,  and  might 
lodge  themselves  so  that  they  might  secure  the  guard  with 
the  tomahawks;  shut  the  sally  gate,  and  the  fort  is  ours. 
None  but  the  guard  and  Contrecoeur  stay  in  the  fort.  For 
God's  sake  communicate  this  to  but  few,  and  them  you  can 
trust.  Intelligence  comes  here  unaccountably.  *  *  * 
Pray  be  kind  to  this  Indian." 
2  [  17  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

In  the  letter  of  the  twenty-ninth  he  said :  ' '  The  French 
use  the  Indians  with  the  greatest  artifice,  *  *  *  There 
are  two  hundred  men  here  at  this  time  and  two  hundred 
more  expected  in  a  few  days;  the  rest  went  off  in  several 
detachments  to  the  amount  of  one  thousand,  besides  Indians. 
The  Indians  have  great  liberty  here;  they  go  out  and  in 
when  they  please  without  notice.  If  one  hundred  trusty 
Shawanese,  Mingoes  and  Delawares  were  picked  out,  they 
might  surprise  the  fort,  lodging  themselves  under  the  plat- 
form behind  the  palisadoes  by  day,  and  at  night  secure  the 
guard  with  tomahawks.  The  guard  consists  of  forty  men 
only,  and  five  officers.  None  lodge  in  the  fort  but  the 
guard,  except  Contrecoeur  —  the  rest  in  bark  cabins  around 
the  fort    *    *    *    ." 

After  the  surrender  of  Washington  at  Fort  Necessity, 
and  his  return  to  Virginia,  the  disappointed  Governor  of 
that  province  at  once  made  an  effort  to  provide  for  another 
attempt  to  repossess  the  forks  of  the  Ohio ;  endeavoring  to 
procure  a  grant  of  money  from  the  House  of  Burgesses, 
which  was  only  accomplished  after  much  delay  and 
difficulty. 

The  governors  of  the  various  provinces  were  at  this  time 
trying  to  make  their  assemblies  grant  money  for  defence, 
but  in  most  cases  were  met  with  indifference.  Even  the 
inhabitants  of  Pennsylvania  did  not  seem  concerned 
whether  or  not  the  French  held  the  Ohio  valley.  Half  the 
population  was  Quaker  traders,  who  either  did  not  see  how 
the  French  occupation  of  the  Ohio  country  could  affect 
their  interests,  or  else  from  religious  principles  were 
opposed  to  war;  while  the  other  half  was  mainly  German 
and  they  cared  little  whether  they  lived  under  English 
or  French  rule,  provided  they  were  left  in  peace  on  their 
farms. 

Until  this  time  the  English  government  had  forced  on 
the  colonists  the  burden  of  repelling  the  advance  of  the 
French  in  North  America.  But  it  was  now  plainly  evident 
that  unless  drastic  measures  were  taken  by  the  home  gov- 
ernment France  would  absorb  the  New  World.  France 
and  England  made  protestation  of  a  desire  for  peace  to 
each  other  while  they  secretly  made  preparations  for  war. 

[  18  ] 


BUTLER 


I  CAMBRIA 


1 

i 

I 
i 


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FRONTIER  TIMES 

England  already  had  a  large  navy,  and  being  formidable 
at  sea  it  was  her  policy  to  strike  quickly ;  but  France  on  the 
sea  was  weak,  and  it  was  her  interest  to  avoid  an  immediate 
issue. 

The  British  ministry  therefore  despatched  General  Brad- 
dock  and  two  regiments  to  Virginia.  France  sent  the 
Baron  Dieskau  with  an  army,  and  Marquis  de  Vaudriel, 
who  was  to  succeed  Du  Quesne  as  Governor,  to  Quebec. 
The  diplomats  of  each  country  meantime  assured  one 
another  that  nothing  hostile  was  intended. 

On  the  twentieth  of  February,  1755,  Braddock  landed  at 
Hampton,  Virginia,  as  Commander  of  the  British  forces  in 
America.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  he  met  the  Colonial 
Governors  at  Alexandria ;  when  the  Council  readily  agreed 
to  the  main  points  of  an  aggressive  campaign. 

Shirley  was  to  take  Niagara;  an  army  of  Provincials, 
under  William  Johnson,  was  to  capture  Crown  Point;  the 
New  Englanders  were  to  attack  the  Acadian  Peninsula; 
while  the  attack  on  Fort  Duquesne,  being  the  most  difficult, 
was  to  be  undertaken  by  Braddock  himself. 

Braddock 's  choice  of  route  to  the  Ohio  has  been  deemed, 
by  some  authorities,  an  error.  (Parkman,  "  Montcalm 
and  Wolfe,"  Vol.  I,  p.  196;  AVinsor,  "  Narrative  and 
Critical  History  of  America,"  Vol.  V,  p.  495.)  Had  Brad- 
dock landed  at  Philadelphia  and  marched  through  Pennsyl- 
vania, instead  of  marching  from  Alexandria  through  Vir- 
ginia and  Maryland,  his  route  would  have  been  through  a 
more  populous  and  better  cultivated  country,  and  his  base 
of  supplies  less  distant.  The  enemies  of  the  English  Ad- 
ministration attributed  the  selection  of  the  Virginia  route 
to  the  influence  of  John  Hanbury,  a  Quaker  merchant,  who 
traded  extensively  in  Virginia,  and  who  had  been  consulted 
by  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  because  of  his  supposed 
familiarity  with  American  affairs.  It  has  also  been  claimed 
that  the  desire  of  Governor  Dinwiddle  to  develop  the  Vir- 
ginia route  to  the  Ohio  had  quite  as  much  to  do  with  the 
choice. 

General  Braddock  brought  with  him  two  regiments  of 
five  hundred  men  each  from  the  British  army  in  Ireland; 
the  Forty-fourth,  commanded  by  Sir  Peter  Halket,  and  tlie 

[  19^] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURG-H 

Forty-eighth  by  Colonel  Dunbar.  The  English  troops, 
accompanied  by  a  suitable  train  of  artillery,  military  sup- 
plies and  provisions,  marched  from  Alexandria  to  Will's 
creek,  arriving  there  about  the  middle  of  May.  The  forces 
which  Braddock  was  able  to  bring  together  at  this  point 
amounted  to  somewhat  more  than  two  thousand  men;  one 
thousand  belonging  to  the  Royal  Regiments,  the  remainder 
supplied  by  the  colonies.  Among  the  latter  were  parts  of 
two  independent  companies  from  New  York,  one  of  which 
was  commanded  by  Captain  Gates,  afterwards  a  Major- 
General  in  the  Revolutionary  Army. 

The  army  was  detained  for  several  weeks  at  Will's  creek, 
owing  to  the  scarcity  of  supplies.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
Colonies  showed  such  unwillingness  to  furnish  supplies  and 
such  indiiierence  to  the  expedition  that  even  Washington 
was  provoked  to  severely  censure  them.  Upon  the  Pennsyl- 
vanians  fell  the  major  portion  of  the  blame.  In  a  letter  to 
William  Fairfax,  dated  Will's  Creek,  June  seventh,  1755, 
Washington  said:  "A  line  of  communication  is  to  be 
opened  from  Pennsylvania  to  the  French  Fort  Duquesne, 
along  which,  after  a  little  time,  we  are  to  receive  all  our 
convoys  of  provisions,  and  to  give  all  possible  encourage- 
ment to  a  people  who  ought  rather  to  be  chastised  for  their 
insensibility  to  danger  and  disregard  of  their  Sovereign's 
expectation.  They,  it  seems,  are  to  be  the  favored  people, 
because  they  have  furnished  what  their  absolute  interest 
alone  induced  them  to  do,  that  is,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
wagons  and  an  equivalent  number  of  horses. ' '  In  the  same 
letter  he  also  said :  ' '  The  General,  from  frequent  breaches 
of  contract,  has  lost  all  patience,  and  for  want  of  that 
temper  and  moderation  which  should  be  used  by  a  man 
of  temper  and  sense  upon  these  occasions  will,  I  fear, 
represent  us  in  a  light  we  little  deserve,  for  instead  of 
blaming  the  individuals,  as  he  ought,  he  charges  all  his 
disappointments  to  public  supineness  and  looks  upon  the 
country,  I  believe,  as  void  of  honor  and  honesty.  We  have 
frequent  disputes  on  this  head  which  are  maintained  with 
warmth  on  both  sides,  especially  on  his,  as  he  is  incapable 
of  arguing  without  it  or  giving  up  any  point  he  asserts, 
be  it  ever  so  incompatible  with  reason  or  common  sense." 

[  20  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

Although  rather  injudicious  in  his  expression  General 
Braddock  had  just  reason  for  complaint.  He  was  de- 
ceived and  disappointed  by  contractors  in  nearly  every 
instance,  and  his  efforts  to  have  the  army  proceed  were 
thus  impeded.  Braddock,  however,  praised  the  New  Eng- 
land colonies  and  echoed  Dinwiddle's  declaration  that  they 
had  shown  a  fine  martial  spirit.  He  also  commended  Vir- 
ginia as  having  done  far  better  than  her  neighbors ;  but  for 
Pennsylvania  he  could  not  find  words  enough  to  express  his 
wrath.  He  was  ignorant  of  the  strife  between  proprieta- 
ries and  people,  and  therefore  could  see  no  excuse  for  con- 
duct which  threatened  the  ruin  of  both  the  expedition  and 
the  colony.  All  depended  upon  speed,  and  speed  was 
impossible.  Many  of  the  colonists  believed  the  alarm  about 
French  encroachment  to  be  but  a  scheme  of  designing 
politicians  and  did  not  fully  realize  their  peril  until  dis- 
asters and  calamities  forced  it  upon  them,  caused  by  the 
folly  of  their  own  representatives,  who,  instead  of  giving 
the  expedition  full  and  prompt  support,  displayed  a  per- 
verseness  and  narrowness  which  gave  Braddock  very  just 
ground  for  his  anger  and  contempt. 

The  obstacles  which  prevented  the  progress  of  the  army 
were  removed  by  Franklin.  Being  at  the  time  Postmaster- 
General  for  the  colonies  he  visited  Braddock  at  Frederick- 
town  in  order  to  arrange  for  the  transmission  of  dispatches 
between  the  General  and  Governors.  On  the  fifth  of  June, 
Braddock  wrote  from  Will's  Creek  to  the  Secretary  of 
State,  as  follows: 

'^  Before  my  departure  from  Frederic,  I  agreed  with 
Mr.  Benjamin  Franklin,  Post  Master  in  Pennsylvania,  who 
has  great  credit  in  that  Province,  to  hire  one  hundred 
fifty  wagons  and  the  necessary  number  of  horses.  This 
he  accomplished  with  promptitude  and  fidelity  and  it  is 
almost  the  only  instance  of  address  and  integrity  which  I 
have  seen  in  all  the  Provinces. ' '  Franklin,  upon  his  return 
to  Pennsylvania,  issued  an  address  to  the  farmers,  and  by 
appealing  to  their  interest  and  their  fears  obtained  the 
necessary  wagons  and  horses. 

The  methods  of  transportation  being  obtained  at  the 
eleventh  hour  the  march  to  Fort  Duquesne  was  continued. 

[  21  J 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

George  Washington  sent  the  following  letter  to  his  brother, 
John  A.  Washington,  from  Youghiogany,  on  the  twen«ty- 
eighth  of  June,  1755 : 

"At  the  Little  Meadows  a  second  council  was  called 
wherein  the  urgency  for  horses  was  again  represented  to 
the  officers  of  the  different  corps,  and  how  laudable  a 
further  retrencliment  of  their  baggage  would  be,  that  the 
spare  ones  might  be  turned  over  for  the  public  service. 
In  order  to  encourage  this,  I  gave  up  my  best  horse,  which 
I  have  never  heard  of  since,  and  took  no  more  baggage  than 
half  my  portmanteau  would  easily  contain.  It  is  said, 
however,  that  the  number  reduced  by  this  second  attempt 
was  only  from  two  hundred  and  ten  or  twelve  to  two  hun- 
dred, which  had  no  perceivable  effect. 

''  The  General,  before  they  met  in  council,  asked  my 
private  opinion  concerning  the  expedition.  I  urged  him  in 
the  warmest  terms  I  was  able,  to  push  forward,  if  he  even 
did  it  with  a  small  but  chosen  band,  with  such  artillery  and 
light  stores  as  were  necessary;  leaving  the  heavy  artillery, 
baggage,  and  the  like  with  the  rear  division  of  the  army,  to 
follow  by  slow  and  easy  marches,  which  they  might  do 
safely  while  we  were  advanced  in  front.  As  one  reason  to 
support  this  opinion,  I  urged  that,  if  we  could  credit  our 
intelligence,  the  French  were  weak  at  the  Fork,  at  present, 
but  hourly  expected  reinforcements,  which,  to  my  certain 
knowledge,  could  not  arrive  with  provisions,  or  any  sup- 
plies, during  the  continuance  of  the  drought,  as  the  Buffalo 
River  (Riviere  aux  Bceufs),  down  which  was  their  only 
communication  to  Venango,  must  be  as  dry  as  we  now  found 
the  Great  Crossing  of  the  Youghiogany,  which  may  be 
passed  dry-shod. 

'^  This  advice  prevailed,  and  it  was  determined,  that  the 
General  with  one  thousand  two  hundred  chosen  men,  and 
officers  from  all  the  different  corps,  under  the  following 
field  officers,  viz:  Sir  Peter  Halket,  who  acts  as  brigadier; 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Gage,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Burton,  and 
Major  Sparks,  with  such  a  number  of  wagons  as  the  train 
would  absolutely  require,  should  march  as  soon  as  things 
could  be  got  in  readiness.  This  was  completed,  and  we  were 
on  our  march  by  the  nineteenth,  leaving  Colonel  Dunbar 

[  22  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

and  Major  Chapman  behind,  with  the  residue  of  the  two 
regiments,  some  Independent  Companies,  most  of  the 
women,  and  in  short,  everything  not  absolutely  essential, 
carrying  our  provisions  and  other  necessaries  upon  horses. 

''  We  set  out  with  less  than  thirty  carriages,  including 
those  that  transport  the  ammunition  for  the  howitzers, 
twelve-pounders,  and  six-pounders,  and  all  of  them  strongly 
horsed,  which  was  a  prospect  that  conveyed  infinite  delight 
to  my  mind,  though  I  was  excessively  ill  at  the  time.  But 
this  prospect  was  soon  clouded,  and  my  hopes  brought  very 
low  indeed,  when  I  found,  that,  instead  of  pushing  on  with 
vigor,  without  regarding  a  little  rough  road,  they  were 
halting  to  level  every  mole-hill,  and  to  erect  bridges  over 
every  brook,  by  which  means  we  were  four  days  in  getting 
twelve  miles.    *    *    *  " 

On  the  eight  of  July,  General  Braddock  and  his  division 
arrived  at  the  junction  of  the  Youghiogheny  and  Mononga- 
hela  rivers,  where  he  was  joined  by  Washington,  who  had 
been  compelled  to  remain  in  the  rear  because  of  a  severe 
attack  of  fever,  from  which  he  was  barely  recovered.  Owing 
to  the  steep  and  rugged  ground  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Monongahela,  when  about  fifteen  miles  distant  from  Fort 
Duquesne,  the  army  crossed  to  the  south  bank  and  con- 
tinued to  march  on  that  side  until  opposite  the  present  site 
of  the  borough  of  Braddock,  when  the  river  was  reforded 
about  noon  on  the  ninth. 

Washington  was  afterwards  frequently  heard  to  remark 
that  the  fording  of  the  Monongahela  by  the  British  troops, 
on  this  eventful  day,  was  the  most  beautiful  spectacle  he 
ever  witnessed.  The  sky  was  without  a  cloud,  the  sun 
made  the  burnished  arms  and  the  scarlet  uniforms  of  the 
British  regulars  even  more  brilliant,  as  they  marched  in 
columns  with  all  the  regularity  of  veterans  of  the  Old 
World,  to  which  the  tranquil  river  and  the  grandeur  of  a 
primeval  forest  was  a  romantic  and  beautiful  background. 

The  advance  column  came  into  the  road,  consisting  of, 
first,  the  guides  with  some  half  dozen  Virginia  light  horse- 
men, followed  at  about  forty  yards  by  the  vanguard;  next, 
Gage  with  three  hundred  men,  and  Sinclair  with  the  axe- 
men; then  two  cannon,  with  ammunition  and  tool  wagons; 

[  23  ] 


THE  HISTOEY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

the  rear-guard  with  flanking  parties  thrown  into  the  woods. 
Braddock  moved  in  with  the  main  body  almost  immediately. 
The  pack  horses,  cattle  and  wagons  were  brought  through 
the  thicket,  with  immense  difficulty.  The  Provincials  with 
a  body  of  regulars  were  in  the  rear. 

The  force  at  Port  Duquesne  in  the  summer  of  1755  was 
small.  Contrecoeur,  who  was  kept  well  informed  of  the 
British  movements  by  his  Indian  scouts,  had  little  belief  in 
his  ability  to  hold  the  Fort  against  an  attack.  But  Beaujeu, 
a  man  of  extreme  dash  and  courage,  finally  persuaded 
Contrecoeur  to  let  him  go  out  to  intercept  the  English. 
Beaujeu 's  force  consisted  of  somewhat  more  than  two 
hundred  regulars  and  Canadians,  with  about  seven  hundred 
Indians.  It  was  Beaujeu 's  design  to  intercept  Braddock  at 
the  ford  of  the  Monongahela,  but  failing  to  make  this  in 
time  he  disposed  his  men  in  a  rough,  well  wooded  rising 
ground,  where  they  waited,  unseen  by  the  advancing  army. 

The  first  intimation  the  English  had  of  the  presence  of 
the  French  was  a  volley,  from  ambush,  which  checked  their 
advance.  Gage  returned  the  fire  with  cannon  and  musketry, 
and  the  only  visible  adversary  fell,  being  probably  Beaujeu. 
Confusion  was  caused  in  the  French  ranks,  the  Indians  and 
Canadians  falling  back.  Braddock,  hearing  the  firing,  at 
once  hurried  to  the  front,  but  no  enemy  was  to  be  seen,  the 
French  keeping  behind  the  brush  and  trees,  and  deliberately 
picking  off  their  opponents  in  the  open.  Braddock,  brave, 
energetic,  but  obstinate  and  devoid  of  judgment,  ignoring 
the  advice  of  Washington  and  the  example  of  the  Provin- 
cials (who  hurried  behind  trees  to  fight  the  French  in  their 
own  way),  mechanically  followed  Old  World  tactics,  and 
railed  at  the  run  for  cover  as  the  basest  cowardice;  his 
soldiers  must  fight  in  order,  in  the  open.  It  was  unfortu- 
nate that  so  much  bravery  was  not  accompanied  by  an 
equal  amount  of  judgment.  Braddock  and  his  officers  set 
the  soldiers  every  possible  example  of  courage  and  forti- 
tude; Braddock  himself  had  five  horses  shot  under  him, 
and  at  last  fell  mortally  wounded;  Washington  lost  two 
horses  and  had  four  bullets  through  his  coat,  but  was  him- 
self unscathed ;  many  of  the  officers  were  killed  or  wounded. 

It  was  useless  to  fire  blindly  at  unseen  foes,  and  to  be  a 

[  24  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

target  for  imerring  shots  was  beyond  endurance.  The  In- 
dians, encouraged,  returned  and  added  still  more  terror. 
At  last,  panic-stricken,  the  English  fled  in  the  wildest  con- 
fusion; their  imaginations  haimted  by  the  carnage  and  the 
blood-curdling  cries  of  the  Indians,  they  hurried  on  and  on, 
and  put  many  a  mile  between  them  and  the  field  of  battle  be- 
fore exhaustion  compelled  a  halt.  Only  four  hundred 
eighty-two  men  recrossed  the  river,  where  but  a  few  hours 
previous  an  army,  well  disciplined  and  in  fine  array,  had 
passed. 

Braddock  was  removed  with  difficulty  and  against  his 
wish,  desiring  to  die  where  he  had  fallen.  He  lingered  for 
three  days,  and  shortly  before  he  expired  was  heard  to 
mutter :  ' '  We  shall  know  how  to  deal  better  with  them  next 
time."  He  was  buried  in  the  middle  of  the  road,  the 
wagons  driving  over  his  grave  so  as  to  efface  all  marks 
that  might  attract  the  attention  of  the  Indians.  The  grave 
was  afterwards  located  a  few  yards  west  of  the  Braddock 
Run  on  the  National  Turnpike,  in  Wharton  township,  Fay- 
ette county,  on  the  north  side  of  the  road. 

There  is  a  report,  with  perhaps  some  foundation,  that 
Braddock  was  shot  by  one  of  his  own  men,  a  certain  Thomas 
Fausett,  whose  brother  Joseph,  Braddock  had  cut  down 
with  his  sword  for  his  persistence  in  fighting  from  behind 
a  tree.    Watson,  in  his  Annals,  gives  the  story  credence. 


Washington  sent  his  mother  the  following  description  of 
the  disastrous  battle: 

"  To  Mrs.  Mary  Washington,  near  Fredericksburg: 

' '  HoNOEBD  Madam  :  As  I  doubt  not  but  you  have  heard 
of  our  defeat,  and  perhaps,  had  it  represented  in  a  worse 
light,  if  possible,  than  it  deserves,  I  have  taken  this  earliest 
opportunity  to  give  you  some  account  of  the  engagement 
as  it  happened,  within  ten  miles  of  the  French  fort,  on 
Wednesday  the  ninth  instant. 

''  We  marched  to  that  place  without  any  considerable 
loss,  having  only  now  and  then  a  straggler  picked  up  by 
the  French  and  scouting  Indians.     When  we  came  there, 

[  25  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

we  were  attacked  by  a  party  of  French  and  Indians,  whose 
number,  I  am  persuaded,  did  not  exceed  three  hundred 
men ;  while  ours  consisted  of  about  one  thousand  three  hun- 
dred well-armed  troops,  chiefly  regular  soldiers,  who  were 
struck  with  such  a  panic,  that  they  behaved  with  more 
cowardice  than  it  is  possible  to  conceive.  The  officers  be- 
haved gallantly,  in  order  to  encourage  their  men,  for  which 
they  suffered  greatly,  there  being  near  sixty  killed  and 
wounded;  a  large  proportion  of  the  number  we  had. 

' '  The  Virginia  troops  showed  a  good  deal  of  bravery,  and 
were  nearly  all  killed;  for  I  believe,  out  of  three  companies 
that  were  there,  scarcely  thirty  men  are  left  alive.  Captain 
Peyrouny,'  and  all  his  officers  down  to  a  corporal,  were 
killed.  Captain  Poison  had  nearly  as  hard  a  fate,  for  only 
one  of  his  was  left.  In  short,  the  dastardly  behavior  of 
those  they  call  regulars  exposed  all  others,  that  were  in- 
clined to  do  their  duty,  to  almost  certain  death ;  and,  at  least, 
in  despite  of  all  the  efforts  of  the  officers  to  the  contrary, 
they  ran,  as  sheep  pursued  by  dogs,  and  it  was  impossible 
to  rally  them. 

' '  The  General  was  wounded,  of  which  he  died  three  days 
after.  Sir  Peter  Halket  was  killed  in  the  field,  where  died 
many  other  brave  officers.  I  luckily  escaped  without  a 
wound,  though  I  had  four  bullets  through  my  coat,  and  two 
horses  shot  under  me.  Captains  Orme  and  Morris,  two  of 
the  aids-de-camp,  were  wounded  early  in  the  engagement, 
which  rendered  the  duty  hard  upon  me,  as  I  was  the  only 
person  then  left  to  distribute  the  General's  orders,  which 
I  was  scarcely  able  to  do,  as  I  was  not  half  recovered  from 
a  violent  illness  that  had  confined  me  to  my  bed  and  a  wagon 
for  about  ten  days.  I  am  still  in  a  weak  and  feeble  con- 
dition, which  induces  me  to  halt  here  two  or  three  days  in 
the  hope  of  recovering  a  little  strength,  to  enable  me  to 
proceed  homeward ;  from  whence,  I  fear,  I  shall  not  be  able 
to  stir  till  towards  September;  so  that  I  shall  not  have  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  you  till  then,  unless  it  be  in  Fairfax. 
Please  to  give  my  love  to  Mr.  Lewis  and  my  sister;  and 
compliments  to  Mr.  Jackson,  and  all  other  friends  that 
inquire  after  me.  I  am,  honored  Madam,  your  most 
dutiful  son." 

[  26  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

The  French  loss  was  small,  but  Beaujeu,  who  commanded 
the  action,  was  killed.  There  is  no  record  to  show  that 
Contrecoeur,  the  Commandant  of  the  Fort,  took  any  part 
in  the  engagement.  Denys  Baron,  the  French  Chaplain, 
records  the  burial  of  Monsieur  Beaujeu,  in  the  ^'  Register 
of  Baptisms  and  Burials  at  Fort  Duquesne,"  as  having 
taken  place  on  the  twelfth  of  July  in  the  Cemetery  of  the 
Assumption  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  at  the  Beautiful  River, 
with  the  ordinary  ceremonies.  All  trace  of  this  cemetery 
was  lost  when  Fort  Pitt  was  erected. 

James  Smith,  later  a  Colonel  and  a  member  of  the  Ken- 
tucky Legislature,  has  described  the  return  of  the  French 
and  Indians  to  Fort  Duquesne,  and  the  horrible  torture  of 
the  English  prisoners,  during  the  next  three  days,  by  the 
savages,  without  interference  from  the  French. 

Of  the  four  armies  sent  to  accomplish  the  design  of  the 
Duke  of  Newcastle,  by  striking  simultaneously,  or  nearly 
so,  at  the  four  dominant  points  of  French  dominion  in 
America,  Braddock,  whose  task  was  heaviest,  was  signally 
defeated ;  Washington  says,  ' '  scandalously  beaten. ' '  This 
disheartened  Shirley,  and  the  movement  against  Fort 
Niagara  proved  abortive;  thus  the  western  division  of  the 
scheme  failed.  Johnson  was  to  capture  Crown  Point,  but 
on  reaching  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Hudson,  Fort 
Lyman,  was  engaged  by  the  French,  who  were  routed  by 
Lyman,  who  was  in  command,  Johnson  being  ill.  Johnson, 
well  pleased  with  the  outcome,  moved  on  down  to  Albany 
and  received  a  baronetcy  and  five  thousand  pounds.  The 
expedition  of  the  New  Englanders  was  successful.  Fort 
Beau  Sejour  surrendered;  and,  shortly  afterwards.  Fort 
Gaspereaux,  which  was  little  more  than  a  stockade,  was 
invested  by  the  English.  Acadia  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
English  in  June,  1755. 

Braddock 's  defeat  cast  a  gloom  over  the  colonies  and 
weakened  England's  position  at  home.  Towards  the  end 
of  the  year,  England  made  an  alliance  with  Prussia,  and  in 
May,  1756,  war  was  formally  declared  against  France. 
Fort  Duquesne,  the  object  of  England's  design  under  Brad- 
dock, continued  to  be  a  point  of  contention,  because  of  its 
commanding  position  with  regard  to  the  whole  west. 

[  27  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

The  campaign  of  1756,  as  planned  by  the  English,  com- 
prehended taking  the  three  forts  on  Lake  Ontario ;  Niagara, 
Frontenac  and  Toronto ;  with  Crown  Point  on  the  east  and 
Fort  Duquesne  as  the  key  to  the  western  position.  The 
result  was  that  the  French  not  only  maintained  themselves, 
but  gained  Oswego,  August  fourteenth,  on  the  southern 
shore  of  Ontario,  which  lent  them  strength  to  further  pro- 
tect Fort  Duquesne.  The  French,  under  Montcalm,  gained 
Fort  William  Henry  in  the  summer  of  1757.  But  there 
was  still  a  chance  for  England,  and,  through  her,  for  the 
Colonies,  when  in  June,  1757,  William  Pitt  was  made  Prime 
Minister.  The  season  was  too  advanced  for  effective  cam- 
paigns during  that  summer,  but  there  was  hope  in  the  year 
to  come,  for  the  vitality  of  the  great  man  quivered  to  the 
length  of  every  British  Colony.  Despondency  continued 
unbroken  over  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Virginia  from 
Braddock's  defeat,  until  the  coming  of  General  John  Forbes 
in  the  autumn  of  1758. 

The  history  of  the  whole  three  years  is  of  border  war- 
fare ;  Indian  raid  succeeding  Indian  raid ;  and  it  is  true  that 
these  were  sometimes  French  and  Indian  raids.  A  line  of 
forts  was  constructed  on  the  west  side  of  the  Susquehanna. 
Washington  endeavored  his  utmost  to  protect  the  three 
hundred  miles  of  Virginia  frontier  with  one  company. 
Franklin  had  been  commissioned  to  defend  the  frontiers  of 
Pennsylvania,  but  the  Assembly  bickered  with  the  Gov- 
ernor about  expenditure  and  did  nothing  to  defend  the  out- 
lying settlers.  The  only  effective  action  taken,  during  the 
period,  was  by  Colonel  John  Armstrong,  who  crossed  the 
Alleghenies  in  September,  1756,  raided  and  razed  the  Dela- 
ware Indian  village  of  Kittanning,  whose  chief  was  the 
redoubtable  Captain  Jacobs. 

Pitt's  plan  for  the  campaign  of  1758  embraced  the  same 
idea  as  those  planned  for  the  three  preceding  years.  The 
result  was  that  Louisburg  was  taken  by  Amherst  and 
Boscawen  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  July.  Lord  Howe  was 
killed  near  Ticonderoga,  July  sixth ;  and  Abercrombie  was 
absolutely  repulsed  by  Montcalm  on  the  eighth.  Fort 
Frontenac  surrendered  to  Bradstreet  on  the  twenty-seventh 
of  August. 

[  28  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

Pitt  appointed  Forbes,  a  man  of  enduring  energy  and 
vital  patience,  to  take  Fort  Duquesne.  Forbes  went  to 
Philadelphia  in  the  April  of  1758,  where  he  set  about  to 
raise  his  army,  and  Franklin  to  provide  for  its  subsistence. 
This  seemed  next  to  impossible,  owing  to  the  stolidness  of 
the  Quakers.  Delay  after  delay  made  it  the  last  of  June 
before  his  force,  amounting  to  about  seven  thousand  men, 
left  Philadelphia.  Among  Forbes'  officers  were  Washing- 
ton, Bouquet,  Armstrong  and  Grant.  There  was  strong 
feeling  as  to  the  route ;  Washington  was  very  anxious  that 
they  should  move  over  Braddock's  road,  as  it  was  already 
made,  but  Forbes  decided  to  take  the  way  through  Carlisle, 
Bedford  and  the  Pennsylvania  passes,  which  was  more 
direct,  but  which  had  to  be  opened.  The  selection  of  the 
route  was  due  in  all  probability  to  the  efforts  of  the 
Pennsylvanians  who,  jealous  of  Virginia,  were  determined 
to  avail  themselves  of  this  opportunity  to  open  a  way  and 
a  road  for  their  traders  and  influence. 

Forbes '  force  ' '  consisted  of  twelve  hundred  Highlanders, 
three  hundred  and  fifty  Royal  Americans,  twenty-seven 
hundred  Provincials  from  Pennsylvania,  one  hundred  from 
Delaware  (then  called  the  Lower  Counties),  sixteen  hun- 
dred from  Virginia,  two  hundred  and  fifty  from  Maryland, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  from  North  Carolina,  and  about  one 
thousand  Wagoners  and  Laborers."  The  march  was 
extremely  slow;  Armstrong  ahead,  cutting  and  hewing  a 
way.  The  month  of  August  found  Forbes  in  Carlisle  so 
ill  that  to  remain  with  his  army  necessitated  his  being  car- 
ried. Bouquet  was  given  the  advance,  and  pushed  on  over 
Laurel  Hill  to  its  western  base  on  the  Loyalhanna,  The 
fortified  camp  there  was  called  Fort  Ligonier,  in  honor  of 
Sir  John  Ligonier  who  was  in  command  of  the  British  land 
forces  in  1757.  It  had  been  Forbes'  plan,  throughout  the 
whole  march,  to  encamp  and  fortify,  bring  up  the  ammuni- 
tion, stores  and  baggage,  and  then  again  to  move  forward. 

Before  General  Forbes  was  able  to  reach  Fort  Ligonier, 
Bouquet  had  allowed  Major  Grant  with  Major  Andrew 
Lewis  to  go  on  with  about  eight  hundred  men  to  reconnoitre 
Fort  Duquesne.  Grant  made  the  attempt  and  wittingly 
or  unwittingly  brought  about  a  most  disastrous  engage- 

[  29  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

ment  with  the  French.  Under  cover  of  night  on  the  four- 
teenth of  September,  Grant  and  his  men  were  on  what  is 
now  known  as  Grant's  Hill,  without  the  cognizance  of  the 
French.  Grant  sent  Lewis  forward  to  burn  the  Indian 
village  about  the  French  Fort,  with  the  understanding  that, 
when  Grant  beat  the  reveille,  Lewis  was  to  fall  back,  thus 
drawing  on  the  French  and  Indians,  who  would  then  be  at 
the  mercy  of  Grant.  Just  before  dawn,  Lewis  and  his  men 
stumbled  back,  claiming  to  have  been  unable  to  make  their 
way  through  the  rough  country.  Grant  had  so  disposed 
his  forces  that  their  mutual  support  was  impossible;  the 
astonishing  reveille  was  heard  by  the  French  and  Indians, 
who  came  out  and  drove  the  English  like  beaten  sheep 
before  them.  Two  hundred  and  seventy  of  Grant's  men 
were  killed,  forty-two  wounded,  and  some  made  prisoners ; 
the  remainder  returned  to  Bouquet,  on  the  Loyalhanna,  as 
best  they  could.  Grant,  himself,  was  taken  prisoner,  and 
later  wrote  a  letter  of  explanation  to  General  Forbes,  in 
which  he  said:  '^  I  am  willing  to  flatter  myself  that  my 
being  a  prisoner  will  be  no  detriment  to  my  promotion,  in 
case  a  vacancy  should  happen  in  the  Army,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  proper  steps  will  be  taken  to  get  me  exchanged  as 
soon  as  possible."  Lewis  insulted  and  challenged  Grant  for 
the  manner  in  which  he  had  been  represented,  and  this  same 
astute  Grant  said  in  the  British  Parliament,  in  1775,  that 
he  knew  the  Americans  well  and  "  that  they  would  never 
dare  face  an  English  army,  being  destitute  of  every 
requisite  for  good  soldiers."  The  effect  of  Grant's  ex- 
pedition was  exceedingly  bad.  During  the  first  part  of 
October,  the  French  and  Indians  attacked  Fort  Ligonier, 
but  were  driven  off  after  having  killed  a  large  number  of 
horses  and  cattle. 

Early  in  November  Forbes  was  carried  into  the  advance 
camp  and  a  council  was  held.  It  was  feared  that  it  was 
too  late  in  the  season  to  attack  the  French  fort  that  now 
lay  but  fifty  miles  beyond  them,  and  for  which  they  had 
striven  with  such  persistent  energy,  under  the  direction  of 
the  quiet  man,  whose  fortitude  and  endurance  seemed  to 
have  been  spent  in  vain.  A  day  or  two  later,  however, 
some  prisoners  reported  the  defenseless  condition  of  Fort 

[  30  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

Duquesne,  which  the  commandant,  M.  Dumas,  had  reported 
to  his  superior  a  year  or  two  earlier  as  being  so  worthless 
* '  that  the  spring  freshet  all  but  carried  it  off. ' ' 

The  way  having  been  opened  within  a  day's  march  of 
the  Fort  by  Washington  and  Armstrong,  on  the  eighteenth 
of  November,  1758,  Forbes,  carried  by  his  men,  started 
over  the  last  stretch  between  the  English  and  the  French 
dominions  in  the  West.  Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
twenty-fourth  of  November  they  came  in  sight  of  the  ruins 
of  Fort  Duquesne,  covered  with  lingering  smoke  and  fog, 
lying  close  in  the  crotch  of  the  yellow  ''  Y  "  formed  by  the 
three  rivers.  Forbes  took  immediate  possession  of  the 
point  of  land  which  had  cost  England  and  France  so  much 
blood. 

The  French  had  evacuated  the  fort  the  night  before, 
blowing  up  their  magazines,  ruining  and  destroying  all 
their  haste  would  allow;  so  Forbes  came  to  the  ruins  of 
Fort  Duquesne,  finally,  without  the  loss  of  a  life,  and  re- 
named it  ''  Fort  Pitt,"  in  honor  of  William  Pitt,  Prime 
Minister  of  England,  the  man  who  was  driving  the  French 
from  North  America. 

Believing  that  contemporary  evidence  should  be  used 
wherever  practicable,  several  letters  are  here  given,  which 
were  written  immediately  after  the  capture  of  Fort 
Duquesne  by  General  Forbes,  and  which  give  some  in- 
formation as  to  the  fort  and  its  destruction  by  the  French. 
The  first  three  letters  appeared  in  the  Rhode  Island  Mer- 
cury of  December,  1758 ;  the  first  is  dated  ' '  Fort  Duquesne, 
November  twenty-sixth,  1758,"  and  was  written  by  Cap- 
tain John  Haslet  to  Reverend  Doctor  Allison;  the  others 
are  unsigned. 

''  I  have  now  the  pleasure  to  write  to  you  from  the  ruins 
of  the  Fort.  On  the  twenty-fourth,  at  night,  we  were 
informed  by  one  of  our  Indian  scouts  that  he  had  dis- 
covered a  cloud  of  smoke  above  the  place,  and  soon  after 
another  came  in  with  certain  intelligence  that  it  was  burnt 
and  abandoned  by  the  enemy.  We  were  then  about  fifteen 
miles  from  it.  A  troop  of  horse  was  sent  forward  im- 
mediately to  extinguish  the  burning;  the  whole  army  fol- 

[  31  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

lowed.     We  arrived  sd  six  o  'clock  last  night,  and  found  it 
in  a  great  measure  destroyed. 

"  There  are  two  forts  about  twenty  yards  distant,  one 
built  with  immense  labor;  small,  but  a  great  deal  of  very 
strong  works  collected  into  little  room,  and  stands  on  the 
point  of  a  narrow  neck  of  land,  at  the  confluence  of  the  two 
rivers;  it  is  square,  and  has  two  ravelins,  gabions  at  each 
corner,  etc.  The  other  fort  stands  on  the  bank  of  the 
Allegheny  in  the  form  of  a  parallelogram  but  nothing  so 
strong  as  the  other ;  several  of  the  outworks  are  late  began 
and  still  unfinished.  There  are,  I  think,  thirty  stacks  and 
chimneys  standing,  but  the  houses  are  all  destroyed.  They 
sprung  a  mine  which  ruined  one  of  their  magazines ;  in  the 
other  we  found  sixteen  barrels  of  ammunition,  a  prodigious 
quantity  of  old  carriage  iron,  barrels  of  guns,  about  a 
cartload  of  scalping  knives,  etc. 

'^  They  went  off  in  so  much  haste  that  they  could  not 
quite  make  the  havoc  of  the  works  they  intended.  We  are 
told  by  the  Indians,  that  they  lay  the  night  before  last  at 
Beaver  Creek,  about  forty  miles  down  the  Ohio  from  here. 
Whether  they  buried  their  cannon  in  the  river,  or  carried 
them  down  in  their  battoes,  we  have  not  yet  learnt.  A  boy, 
twelve  years  old,  who  has  been  their  prisoner  about  two 
years,  and  made  his  escape  on  the  2d  inst.,  tells  us  they 
carried  a  prodigious  quantity  of  wood  into  the  fort;  that 
they  had  burnt  five  of  the  prisoners  they  took  at  Major 
Grant's  defeat,  on  the  parade,  and  delivered  others  to  the 
Indians,  who  were  tomahawked  on  the  spot.  We  found 
numbers  of  bodies  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  fort, 
unburied,  so  many  monuments  of  French  humanity.  A 
great  many  Indians,  mostly  Delawares,  were  gathered 
together  on  the  island  last  night  and  this  morning,  to  treat 
with  the  General,  and  we  are  making  rafts  to  bring  them 
over.  Whether  the  General  will  think  of  repairing  the 
ruins,  or  leaving  any  of  the  troops  here,  I  have  not  yet 
learnt.  Mr.  Batie  is  appointed  to  preach  a  Thanksgiving 
sermon  for  the  superiority  of  His  Majesty's  Arms.  We 
left  all  our  tents  at  Loyalhanning,  and  every  convenience 
except  a  blanket  and  a  knapsack. ' ' 

[  32  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

"^  Fort  Duquesne,  November  thirtieth,  1758. 
''After  much  fatigue  and  labor  we  have  at  last  bro't  the 
artillery  to  this  place  and  found  the  French  had  left  us 
nothing  to  do,  having  on  the  twenty-fourth  instant  blown 
up  their  magazine,  their  Indians  had,  either  through  fear, 
or  to  atone  for  their  many  barbarities,  deserted  them ;  and 
as  they  depended  on  them  to  attack  us  in  the  woods  (the 
only  chance  they  had  of  beating  us),  the  French  judged 
rightly  in  abandoning  the  fort,  the  front  of  whose  polygon 
is  only  one  hundred  fifty  feet,  and  which  our  shells  would 
have  destroyed  in  three  days.  We  have  fired  some  howitzer 
shells  into  the  face  of  the  work,  which  is  made  of  nine  inch 
plank,  and  rammed  between  with  earth;  and  found  that  in 
firing  but  a  few  hours  we  must  have  destroyed  the  entire 
face."  The  Mercury  adds:  ''All  this,  confinns  the  ac- 
count we  received  two  weeks  past,  that  the  fort  surrendered 
without  resistance." 

Another  letter  mentioned  that  "  only  about  twenty-five 
hundred  picked  men  marched  from  the  Loyalhanning ;  that 
the  garrison  consisted  of  about  four  hundred  men,  part  of 
which  had  gone  down  the  Ohio,  one  hundred  by  land,  sup- 
posed to  Presque  Isle,  and  two  hundred  with  the  Governor, 
JMonsieur  Delignier,  to  Venango,  and  to  stay  there  till  the 
spring,  and  then  return,  and  dispossess  our  people.  That 
two  hundred  of  our  people  are  to  be  left  at  Fort  Duquesne, 
now  Pittsburgh,  to  keep  possession  of  the  ground,  one 
hundred  of  the  oldest  Virginians,  the  other  of  our  oldest 
Pennsylvanians ;  that  the  new  raised  levies  are  all  dis- 
charged; and  that  at  the  last  affair  at  Loyalhanning  the 
French  lost  nine  Indians  in  the  field,  and  carried  off  four 
mortally  wounded;  this  an  Indian  now  in  camp  informs, 
who  was  in  the  engagement." 

Washington,  after  the  capture  of  Fort  Duquesne,  wrote 
to  Governor  Farquier  as  follows: 

"  Camp  at  Fort  Duquesne, 

^'Twenty-eighth  November,  1758. 
' '  Sir.  —  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you,  that  Fort 
Duquesne,  or  the  ground  rather  on  which  it  stood,  was 
3  [  33  ] 


THE  HISTOKY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

possessed  by  Ms  Majesty's  troops  on  tlie  25th  inst.  The 
enemy,  after  letting  us  get  within  a  day's  march  of  the 
place,  burned  the  fort,  and  ran  away  by  the  light  of  it,  at 
night,  going  down  the  Ohio  by  water,  to  the  number  of 
about  five  hundred  men,  according  to  our  best  information. 
This  possession  of  the  fort  has  been  a  matter  of  surprise 
to  the  whole  army,  and  we  cannot  attribute  it  to  more 
probable  causes,  than  the  weakness  of  the  enemy,  want  of 
provisions,  and  the  defection  of  their  Indians.  Of  these 
circumstances  we  were  luckily  informed  by  three  prisoners 
who  providentially  fell  into  our  hands  at  Loyal  Hanna, 
when  we  despaired  of  proceeding  further.  A  council  of 
war  had  determined  that  it  was  not  advisable  to  advance 
this  season  beyond  that  place;  but  the  above  information 
caused  us  to  march  on  without  tents  or  baggage,  and  with 
only  a  light  train  of  artillery.  We  have  thus  happily  suc- 
ceeded. It  would  be  tedious,  and  I  think  unnecessary,  to 
relate  every  trivial  circumstance,  that  has  happened  since 
my  last.  To  do  this,  if  needful,  shall  be  the  employment 
of  a  leisure  hour,  when  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  to  pay 
my  respects  to  your  Honor. 

*'  The  General  intends  to  wait  here  a  few  days  to  settle 
iOiatters  with  the  Indians,  and  then  all  the  troops,  except  a 
sufficient  garrison  to  secure  the  place,  will  march  to  their 
respective  governments.  I  give  your  Honor  this  early 
notice  that  your  directions  relative  to  the  troops  of  Vir- 
ginia may  meet  me  on  the  road.  I  cannot  help  reminding 
you,  in  this  place,  of  the  hardships  they  have  undergone, 
and  of  their  present  naked  condition,  that  you  may  judge 
if  it  is  not  essential  for  them  to  have  some  little  recess 
from  fatigue,  and  time  to  provide  themselves  with  neces- 
saries. At  present  they  are  destitute  of  every  comfort  of 
life.  If  I  do  not  get  your  orders  to  the  contrary,  I  shall 
march  the  troops  under  my  command  directly  to  Win- 
chester. They  may  then  be  disposed  of  as  you  shall  after- 
wards direct. 

''  General  Forbes  desires  me  to  inform  you,  that  he  is 
prevented,  by  a  multiplicity  of  affairs,  from  writing  to  you 
so  fully  now,  as  he  would  otherwise  have  done.  He  has 
written  to  the  commanding  officers  stationed  on  the  com- 

[  34  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

munication  from  hence  to  Wincliester,  relative  to  the  con- 
duct of  the  Little  Carpenter,  a  chief  of  the  Cherokees,  the 
purport  of  which  was  to  desire,  that  they  would  escort  him 
from  one  place  to  another,  to  prevent  his  doing  any  mis- 
chief to  the  inhabitants, 

''  This  fortunate,  and,  indeed,  unexpected  success  of  our 
arms  will  be  attended  with  happy  effects.  The  Delawares 
are  suing  for  peace,  and  I  doubt  not  that  other  tribes  on 
the  Ohio  will  follow  their  example.  A  trade,  free,  open, 
and  on  equitable  terms,  is  what  they  seem  much  to  desire, 
and  I  do  not  know  so  effectual  a  way  of  riveting  them  to 
our  interest,  as  by  sending  out  goods  immediately  to  this 
place  for  that  purpose.  It  will,  at  the  same  time,  be  a 
means  of  supplying  the  garrison  with  such  necessaries  as 
may  be  wanted ;  and,  I  think,  the  other  colonies,  which  are 
as  greatly  interested  in  the  support  of  this  place  as  Vir- 
ginia, should  neglect  no  means  in  their  power  to  establish 
and  maintain  a  strong  garrison  here.  Our  business,  with- 
out this  precaution,  will  be  but  half  finished;  while  on  the 
other  hand,  we  shall  obtain  a  firm  and  lasting  peace  with 
the  Indians,  if  this  end  is  once  accomplished. 

"  General  Forbes  is  very  assiduous  in  getting  these  mat- 
ters settled  upon  a  solid  basis,  and  has  great  merit  for  the 
happy  issue  to  which  he  has  brought  our  affairs,  infirm  and 
;vorn  down  as  he  is.  At  present  I  have  nothing  further  to 
add,  but  the  strongest  assurances  of  my  being 

''  Your  Honor's  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

^'  GEORGE  WASHINGTON." 

General  Forbes  returned  to  Philadelphia  where  he  died 
a  few  weeks  later.  Colonel  Hugh  Mercer,  with  about  two 
hundred  men,  was  left  at  the  forks  of  the  Ohio.  His 
position  was  difficult.  Winter  was  on,  shelter  from  weather 
as  well  as  for  defense  must  be  made  by  men  on  short  rations 
and  insufficiently  clothed,  and  with  the  fear  of  the  Indians 
always  upon  them.  Under  this  stress  the  first  Fort  Pitt 
was  completed  some  time  in  January,  1759.  In  a  letter, 
written  during  that  month.  Colonel  Mercer  said,  the  Fort 
is  "  capable  of  some  defense  though  huddled  up  in  a  very 
hasty  manner;  the  weather  being  extremely  severe."  It 
i\^as,  in  fact,  a  mere  stockade. 

[  35  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

The  French  had  declared  that  they  would  return  in  the 
spring,  but  they  did  not,  and  the  French  and  English  cam- 
paign in  the  summer  of  1760  differed  radically  from  those 
of  the  preceding  years.  To  Wolfe  is  due  the  final  and 
entire  overthrow  of  the  French  in  northern  North  America. 
While  the  aspect  of  affairs  at  Fort  Pitt  changed  when 
relieved  from  fear  of  conflict  with  the  French,  the  situation 
was  by  no  means  without  its  complexities.  The  Indians 
claimed  their  original  right  to  the  land,  and  Virginia 
asserted  her  title,  according  to  her  first  charter  from 
James  I.  in  1609.  The  English  made  many  concessions  to 
the  Indians,  in  view  of  winning  their  allegiance.  An- 
nouncing they  had  not  come  to  take  their  land  from  them 
as  the  French  had,  but  had  come  to  trade  with  them  and 
to  be  of  much  benefit  to  them. 

Many  were  the  councils  held  with  the  Indians  to  promote 
good  feeling.  Colonel  Bouquet  presided  over  a  conference, 
December  fourth,  1758,  with  the  Delawares,  to  assure  them 
of  the  love  of  the  English  King.  Colonel  Hugh  Mercer 
held  two  conferences  with  them ;  one  in  January,  1759,  with 
the  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations,  Delawares  and  Shawanese, 
and  one  in  the  following  July,  at  which  George  Croghan 
represented  Sir  William  Johnson,  the  English  Indian  Com- 
missioner. English  and  Colonial  traders  gathered  rapidly 
around  the  fort  and  did  a  brisk  business. 

General  John  Stanwix  was  appointed  to  succeed  General 
Forbes  as  Commander  of  his  Majesty's  troops  in  the 
Southern  Department,  and  showing  the  importance  of  Fort 
Pitt,  from  a  military  point  of  view.  General  Stanwix  came 
to  Pittsburgh  in  the  latter  part  of  August,  1759,  with  a 
force  of  workmen  to  erect  the  formidable  fortification  which 
was  to  take  the  place  of  the  light  work  thrown  up  by  Colonel 
Mercer.  The  work  actually  began  on  the  third  of  Septem- 
ber, under  the  personal  supervision  of  General  Stanwix, and 
went  rapidly  forward,  so  that  by  the  following  spring  it 
was  capable  of  occupation,  though  it  was  not  entirely  com- 
pleted until  the  summer  of  1761.  The  fort  was  five-sided, 
irregular.  The  two  facing  east  and  north  were  guarded 
by  a  revetment  (a  brick  work  nearly  perpendicular) ;  the 
other  three  by  a  line  of  pickets.     The  whole  work  was  sur- 

[  36  ] 


PLAN  OF  FOKT  PITT;   BUILT  BY  GENL.   STANWIX,    1759-60. 

o,  Barracks,  already  built.  /;,  ( A)iumaiidaiir»  Hoiise,  not  built,  e,  StDre  House.  d,d,Povr 
der  Magazines,  c,  Casemate,  ooiu])letcd.  .;',  .Slorc  House  for  Flour,  Ac.  ff,  Wells,  in  two  of  which 
are  pumps.  A,  Fort  Duquesiie.  /,  /,  Horn  Work,  to  cover  French  Barracks.  /.-,  Fh-st  Fott  Pitt, 
destroyed,    h,  Sally  Port. 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

rounded  by  a  ditch,  which,  when  the  rivers  were  at  moderate 
height,  was  full  of  water,  and,  when  the  two  rivers  were  low 
and  the  ditch  dry,  it  was  used  by  the  officers  as  a  ball  alley. 
The  fort  occupied  the  land  from  the  point  of  confluence 
of  the  rivers  as  far  east  as  Third  street,  West  street,  and 
part  of  Liberty  street.  Rutzer,  an  engineer,  made  a  draft 
of  the  fort  which  is  in  the  British  Museum.  From  this 
has  been  obtained  the  only  reliable  idea  of  Fort  Pitt,  of 
which  not  the  slightest  remnant  remains.  Bouquet's  re- 
doubt was  built  in  1764.  The  fort  is  said  to  have  cost 
£60,000  sterling;  this,  however,  seems  a  high  estimate, 
though  there  is  no  reliable  evidence  refuting  it.  It  was 
capable  of  accommodating  one  thousand  men. 

Conferences  with  the  Indians  continued  to  be  a  common 
occurrence.  The  great  chiefs  and  their  many  followers 
made  appreciable  inroads  on  the  provisions  of  the  garrison, 
often  leaving  the  officers  more  than  seriously  incon- 
venienced. The  most  notable  Indian  meeting,  during  Gen- 
eral Stanwix's  sojourn  at  Fort  Pitt,  was  held  on  the  twenty- 
fifth  of  October,  1759,  at  which  were  present  Guyasuta,  The 
Beaver,  King  of  the  Delawares,  Shingas,  the  Pipe,  Gus- 
talogo  and  Kilbuck.  Beside  General  Stanwix  and  the  offi- 
cers of  the  garrison,  were  present  George  Croghan,  Sir 
William  Johnson's  representative,  and  his  assistants,  Wil- 
liam Trent  and  Thomas  McKee,  with  Henry  Montour  acting 
as  interpreter.  The  Indians  declared  their  unalterable 
friendship  and  the  English  assured  the  Indians  of  their 
everlasting  protection.  But,  despite  these  protestations, 
and  the  fact  that  there  was  but  little  ravaging  at  this  time, 
there  was  no  feeling  of  confidence. 

General  Stanwix,  in  a  letter  to  Governor  Hamilton,  dated 
Fort  Pitt,  March  seventeenth,  1760,  said:  *  *  *  '^As 
soon  as  the  waters  are  down,  I  propose  to  leave  this  post 
for  Philadelphia,  which  I  can  now  do  with  great  satis- 
faction, having  finished  the  works  all  round  in  a  very 
defensible  manner,  leave  the  garrison  in  good  health,  in 
excellent  barracks,  and  seven  months  wholesome,  good 
provisions  from  the  1st  of  April  next ;  the  rest  of  the  works 
may  now  be  finished  under  cover,  and  the  men  be  obliged 
only  to  work  in  proper  weather,  which  has  been  very  far 

[  37  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

from  our  case  this  hard  winter  and  dirty  spring,  so  far  as 
it  is  advanced;  but  we  have  carried  the  works  as  far  into 
execution  as  I  could  possibly  propose  to  myself  in  the  time, 
and  don't  doubt  but  it  will  be  finished  as  soon  as  such  work 
can  be  done,  so  as  to  give  a  strong  security  to  all  the 
Southern  Provinces  and  answer  every  end  proposed  for 
his  Majesty's  service." 

The  General  left  the  fort  and  seven  hundred  men  in 
charge  of  Major  Tulikens.  General  Monckton,  Command- 
ant of  the  entire  Western  Department,  is  reported  to  have 
been  at  Fort  Pitt  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  June,  1760,  and  to 
have  remained  a  short  time. 

Colonel  Burd  arrived  in  Pittsburgh  on  the  sixth  of  July 
of  the  same  year  to  relieve  Major  Tulikens,  and  remained 
in  charge  until  the  following  November,  when  Colonel 
Vaughan  commanded  during  the  winter  of  1760  and  1761. 
The  Colonial  Records  indicate  that,  during  the  year  1762, 
the  Indians  continued  to  declare  their  desire  to  cultivate  the 
friendship  of  the  English,  and  the  King  of  the  Delawares, 
with  other  Indians,  promised  to  give  up  all  white  prisoners 
to  Colonel  Burd  and  Josiah  Davenport  at  Fort  Pitt. 
Colonel  Burd  was  most  probably  commandant  at  Fort  Pitt 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1762  and  the  early  part 
of  1763,  when  Pontiac  was  planning,  with  civilized  precision, 
the  extermination  of  his  English  brothers,  but  the  blow  fell 
during  the  command  of  Captain  Simeon  Ecuyer,  a  Swiss, 
as  was  Bouquet,  to  whose  foresight  and  astuteness  the 
English  owed  the  preservation  of  this  important  point. 

The  record  of  Fort  Pitt  during  the  spring  and  summer  of 
1763  is  preserved,  in  the  letters  of  Ecuyer  to  Colonel  Henry 
Bouquet,  in  the  British  Museum.  In  a  letter,  dated  the 
eleventh  of  March,  he  reported  that  on  the  eighth  there  were 
"  six  inches  of  water  in  the  Fort  and  the  Allegheny  full  of 
ice."  In  a  letter  of  the  ninth  of  April  he  said:  *'  It 
appears  by  the  return  of  Mr.  McKee  that  the  Shawanese 
are  no  longer  so  well  disposed  as  they  were  last  Autumn." 

In  another  letter  to  Bouquet,  dated  May  twenty-ninth, 
from  the  Fort,  he  said : 

'  *  SiE.  —  A  large  party  of  Mingoes  arrived  here  at  the 
beginning   of   the   month   and   have   delivered   to  us   ten 

[  38  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

miserable  horses.  They  demand  presents  from  me,  but  I 
have  refused  all  their  demands  excepting  eight  bushels  of 
Indian  corn,  which  they  have  planted  opposite  Croghan's 
house,  where  they  have  formed  a  town.  Before  yesterday 
evening  Mr.  McKee  reported  to  me  that  the  Mingoes  and 
Delawares  were  in  motion,  and  that  they  sold  in  haste 
£300  worth  of  skins,  with  which  they  have  bought  as  much 
powder  and  lead  as  they  could.  Yesterday  I  sent  him  to 
their  villages  to  get  information,  but  found  them  all 
abandoned.  He  followed  their  traces,  and  he  is  certain 
they  have  descended  the  river;  that  makes  me  think  they 
wish  to  intercept  our  boats  and  prevent  our  passage.  They 
have  stolen  three  horses  and  a  cask  of  rum  at  Bushy  Run ; 
they  at  the  same  time  stole  £50  from  one  called  Coleman 
(on  the  road  to  Bedford)  with  the  gun  at  his  breast.  They 
say  the  famous  Wolfe  and  Butler  were  the  chiefs,  and  it 
is  clear  that  they  wish  to  break  with  us.  I  pity  the  poor 
people  on  the  communication.  I  am  at  work  to  put  the 
Fort  in  the  best  possible  condition  with  the  few  people  we 
have.  Mr.  Hutchins  arrived  here  yesterday  with  six 
recruits.  We  have  twenty  boats  in  the  water ;  I  would  like 
to  know  the  number  you  wish,  and  what  the  carpenters 
must  do.  As  I  was  finishing  my  letter  three  men  arrived 
from  Clapham's  with  the  bad  news  that  yesterday  at  three 
o'clock  p.  M.  the  Indians  had  killed  Clapham,  and  all  that 
were  in  the  house  were  robbed  and  massacred.  These  three 
men  were  at  work  and  escaped  through  the  woods.  I  sent 
them  immediately  with  arms  to  warn  our  men  at  Bushy 
Run.  The  Indians  told  Byerly  to  quit  the  place  or  they 
would  all  be  killed  in  four  days.  I  tremble  for  our  small 
posts.     As  for  this  one,  I  will  answer  for  it. 

''  If  any  person  should  come  here,  they  must  take  an 
escort,  for  the  affair  is  serious. 

''  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir, 
* '  Your  very  humble  and  obedient  servant, 

"  S.  ECUYER.'' 
(Colonel  Bouquet.) 

Ecuyer  demolished  the  "  lower  town  "  (the  settlement 
immediately  about  the  fort)  and  took  the  wood  for  use  in 

[  39  ] 


THE  HISTOEY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

the  fort,  but  he  burnt  the  ''  high  town  "  (the  settlement 
farther  up  the  hill)  to  prevent  the  Indians  from  using  it 
for  cover.  On  the  thirtieth  of  May,  1763,  the  inhabitants, 
numbering  about  three  hundred,  were  taken  into  Fort  Pitt. 
The  garrison  had  consisted  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  but  there  were  now  three  hundred  and  thirty  men,  one 
hundred  and  four  women,  and  one  hundred  and  six  children 
to  be  sheltered  and  provided  for. 

The  fort  was  made  as  formidable  as  possible;  Ecuyer 
stated  he  had  ' '  sixteen  pieces  mounted  on  good  platform, ' ' 
and  ''  a  sufficiently  good  retrenchment  to  join  a  f raise, 
which  is  not  set  out  over  all,  so  is  not  altogether  as  regular 
as  it  should  be,  but  without  engineers  and  being  much 
hurried  this  should  pass,  and  I  think  it  is  good  enough 
against  this  rabble  so  that  I  begin  to  breathe.  We  have 
worked  during  eleven  days  in  an  incredible  manner,  our 
men  are  much  fatigued,  but  I  do  not  complain.  In  the 
future  they  will  have  rest.  I  have  divided  my  little  garri- 
son into  two  divisions,  each  one  with  three  officers,  five 
sergeants,  one  drum  and  from  sixty  to  seventy  men.  We 
are  all  doubly  armed." 

The  Indian  attack  actually  began  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
twenty-eighth  of  July.  The  Indians  swarmed  around  the 
fort,  burrowed  into  the  ground  like  moles,  and  from  these 
small  individual  defenses,  with  the  utmost  precision,  shot 
any  one  who  dared  appear.  Ecuyer  covered  his  men  well. 
The  attack  lasted  five  days  and  five  nights ;  seven  soldiers 
were  wounded,  Ecuyer  himself  was  struck  in  the  leg  by  an 
arrow,  but  wrote  '^  we  are  certain  of  having  killed  and 
wounded  twenty  of  their  men,  without  counting  those  whom 
we  have  not  seen."  Word  must  have  come  to  the  Indians 
of  Bouquet's  expendition,  for  at  this  time  they  left  Fort 
Pitt,  moving  to  the  east. 

Bouquet  was  in  Philadelphia  when  he  was  ordered  by 
Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst  to  relieve  Fort  Pitt.  He  was  given 
**  the  shattered  remainder  of  the  42nd  and  77th  regiments, 
about  five  hundred  men,  lately  returned  in  a  dismal  con- 
dition from  the  West  Indies,  and  far  from  being  recovered 
from  their  fatigue  at  the  siege  of  Havana."  Sixty  of 
these  men  were  so  ill  and  weak  they  had  to  be  carried  over 
the  mountains  in  wagons. 

[  40  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

The  country  through  which  Bouquet  marched  instead 
of  yielding  provisions  for  the  beleaguered  fort  as  well  as 
for  his  army,  had  either  been  devastated  by  the  savages 
or  the  fields  had  been  left  unharvested  by  the  settlers  who 
had  sought  refuge  in  the  eastern  towns.  Bouquet  left 
Fort  Bedford  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  July  and  reached 
Fort  Ligonier  safely.  To  expedite  matters,  he  left  his 
wagons  and  all  that  was  not  absolutely  necessary  at  this 
post,  and  the  army,  thus  lightened,  continued  the  route  to 
the  west. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  fifth  of  August,  when  the  army 
was  half  a  mile  east  of  the  dangerous  defile  of  Turtle 
Creek,  they  were  attacked  with  great  vigor  by  the  Indians. 
This  particular  pass  Bouquet  had  determined  to  move 
through  under  the  cover  of  night,  owing  to  the  great  natural 
advantages  it  possessed  for  an  assailing  party.  The 
precipitate  attack  of  the  Indians,  however,  proved  very 
clearly  the  ability  of  Bouquet  and  the  temper  of  his  men. 
The  savages  attacked  with  violence,  but  fell  back  before 
any  aggressive  movement  only  to  return  with  renewed 
violence  as  soon  as  the  assault  ceased.  In  this  way  the 
troops  were  like  to  be  harried  to  destruction ;  that  they  were 
not  was  due  to  a  well  planned  and  well  executed  manoeuvre 
which  Bouquet  describes  in  the  following  letters  to  Sir 
Jeffrey  Amherst,  Commander-in-Chief: 

* '  Camp  at  Edgehill,  twenty-six  miles  from  Fort  Pitt, 

''Fifth  of  August,  1763. 

^'  Sir.  —  The  second  instant,  the  troops  and  convoy 
arrived  at  Ligonier,  whence  I  could  obtain  no  intelligence 
of  the  enemy;  the  expresses  sent  since  the  beginning  of 
July  have  been  either  killed  or  obliged  to  return,  all  the 
passes  being  occupied  by  the  enemy;  in  this  uncertainty  I 
determined  to  leave  all  the  wagons  with  the  powder,  and 
a  quantity  of  stores  and  provisions  at  Ligonier;  and  on 
the  fourth  proceeded  with  the  troops  and  about  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  horses  loaded  with  flour.  I  intended  to  have 
halted  a  day  at  Bushy  Run  (a  mile  beyond  this  camp)  and 
after  having  refreshed  the  men  and  horses  to  have  marched 

[  41  ] 


THE  HISTOEY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

in  the  night  over  Turtle  creek,  a  very  dangerous  defile  of 
several  miles,  commanded  by  high  and  craggy  hills;  but 
at  one  o'clock  this  afternoon  after  a  march  of  seventeen 
miles,  the  savages  suddenly  attacked  our  advanced  guard 
which  was  immediately  supported  by  the  two  Light  In- 
fantry Companies  of  the  Forty-second  regiment  who  drove 
the  enemy  from  their  ambuscade  and  pursued  them  a  good 
way.  The  savages  returned  to  the  attack  and  the  fire 
being  obstinate  on  our  front  and  extending  along  our 
flanks  we  made  a  general  charge  with  the  whole  line  to 
dislodge  the  savages  from  the  heights  in  which  attempt  we 
succeeded  without  obtaining  from  it  any  decisive  advan- 
tage; for  as  soon  as  they  were  driven  from  one  post  they 
appeared  on  another,  till  by  continued  reinforcements  they 
were  at  last  able  to  surround  us  and  attack  the  convoy  left 
in  our  rear;  this  obliged  us  to  march  back  to  protect  it; 
the  action  then  became  general  and  though  we  were 
attacked  on  every  side  and  the  savages  exerted  themselves 
with  uncommon  resolution,  they  were  constantly  repulsed 
with  loss  —  we  also  suffered  considerably ;  Lieutenant 
Graham  and  Lieutenant  James  Mcintosh  of  the  Forty- 
second  are  killed  and  Captain  Graham  wounded.  Of  the 
Royal  American  Regiment  Lieutenant  Dow  who  acted  as 
A.  D.  Q.  M.  G.  is  shot  through  the  body.  Of  the  Seventy- 
seventh  Lieutenant  Donald  Campbell  and  Mr.  Peebles,  a 
volunteer,  are  wounded.  Our  loss  in  men  including 
rangers  and  drivers  exceeds  sixty  killed  and  wounded. 
The  action  has  lasted  from  one  o'clock  till  night  and  we 
expect  to  begin  again  at  daybreak.  Whatever  our  fate 
may  be  I  thought  it  necessary  to  give  your  excellency  this 
information  that  you  may  at  all  events,  take  such  measures 
as  you  will  think  proper  with  the  Provinces,  for  their  own 
safety  and  the  eifectual  relief  of  Fort  Pitt,  as,  in  case 
another  engagement,  I  fear  insurmountable  difficulties  in 
protecting  and  transporting  our  provisions,  being  already 
so  much  weakened  by  the  losses  of  this  day  in  men  and 
horses;  besides  the  additional  necessity  of  carrying  the 
wounded  whose  situation  is  truly  deplorable. 

*'  I  cannot  sufficiently  acknowledge  the  constant  assist- 
ance I  have  received  from  Major  Campbell  during  this  long 

[  42  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

action  nor  express  my  admiration  of  the  cool  and  steady 
behaviour  of  the  troops  who  did  not  fire  a  shot  without 
orders  and  drove  the  enemy  from  their  posts  with  fixed 
bayonets  —  the  conduct  of  the  officers  is  much  above  my 
praises. 

' '  I  have  the  honor  to  be  with  great  respect  Sir,  etc., 

''HENRY  BOUQUET. 
"  To  Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst." 


'  *  Camp  at  Bushy  Run,  Sixth  of  August,  1763. 

' '  Sir.  —  I  had  the  honor  to  inform  Your  Excellency  in 
my  letter  of  yesterday  of  our  first  engagement  with  the 
savages. 

"  We  took  post  last  night  on  the  hill,  where  our  convoy 
halted,  when  the  front  was  attacked,  (a  commodious  piece 
of  ground,  and  just  spacious  enough  for  our  purpose.) 
There  we  encircled  the  whole,  and  covered  our  wounded 
with  flour  bags.  In  the  morning  the  savages  surrounded 
our  camp,  at  the  distance  of  about  five  hundred  yards,  and 
by  shouting  and  yelping,  quite  round  that  extensive  cir- 
cumference, thought  to  have  terrified  us,  with  their  num- 
bers. They  attacked  us  early,  and  under  favor  of  an  in- 
cessant fire,  made  bold  efforts  to  penetrate  our  camp;  and 
though  they  failed  in  the  attempt,  our  situation  was  not  less 
perplexing,  having  experienced  that  brisk  attacks  had  but 
little  effect  upon  an  enemy  who  always  gave  way  when 
pressed,  and  appeared  again  immediately ;  our  troops  were 
besides  extremely  fatigued  with  the  long  march,  and  the 
long  action  of  the  preceding  day,  and  distressed  to  the  last 
degree  by  a  total  want  of  water,  much  more  intolerable 
than  the  enemy's  fire. 

"  Tied  to  our  convoy  we  could  not  lose  sight  of  it,  with- 
out exposing  it  and  our  wounded  to  fall  a  prey  to  the 
savages,  who  pressed  upon  us  at  every  side;  and  to  move 
was  impracticable,  having  lost  many  horses  and  most  of 
the  drivers,  who,  stupified  by  fear,  hid  themselves  in  the 
bushes  or  were  incapable  of  hearing  or  obeying  orders. 

''  The  savages,  growing  every  moment  more  audacious, 
it  was  thought  proper  still  to  increase  their  confidence ;  by 

[  43  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

that  means  if  possible  to  entice  them  to  come  close  upon 
us,  or  to  stand  their  ground  when  attacked.  With  this 
view  two  companies  of  light  Infantry  were  ordered  within 
the  circle,  and  the  troops  on  their  right  and  left  opened 
their  files,  and  filled  up  the  space  that  it  might  seem  they 
were  intended  to  cover  the  retreat ;  the  third  light  Infantry 
Company  and  the  Grenadiers  of  the  Forty-second  were 
ordered  to  support  the  two  first  companies.  This 
manoeuvre  succeeded  to  our  wish,  for  the  few  troops  who 
took  possession  of  the  ground  lately  occupied  by  the  two 
light  infantry  companies  being  brought  in  nearer  to  the 
center  of  the  circle,  the  barbarians  mistaking  these  motions 
for  a  retreat,  hurried  headlong  on,  and  advancing  upon  us 
with  the  most  daring  intrepidity,  galled  us  excessively  with 
their  heavy  fire;  but  at  the  very  moment  that,  certain  of 
success,  they  thought  themselves  master  of  the  camp, 
Major  Campbell  at  the  head  of  the  two  first  companies, 
sallied  out  from  a  part  of  the  hill  they  could  not  observe, 
and  fell  upon  their  right  flank ;  they  resolutely  returned  the 
fire  biit  could  not  stand  the  irresistible  shock  of  our  men, 
who,  rushing  in  among  them,  killed  many  of  them  and  put 
the  rest  to  flight.  The  orders  sent  the  other  two  companies 
were  delivered  so  timely  by  Captain  Basset  and  executed 
with  such  celerity  and  spirit,  that  the  routed  savages,  who 
happened  to  run  that  moment  before  their  front,  received 
their  full  fire  when  uncovered  by  the  trees;  the  four  com- 
panies did  not  give  them  time  to  load  a  second  time,  nor 
even  to  look  behind  them,  but  pursued  them  until  they  were 
totally  dispersed.  The  left  of  the  savages,  which  had  not 
been  attacked,  was  kept  in  awe  by  the  remains  of  our 
troops  posted  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  for  that  purpose ;  nor 
durst  they  attempt  to  support  or  assist  their  right,  but 
being  witness  of  their  defeat,  followed  their  example  and 
fled.  Our  brave  men  disdained  so  much  to  touch  the  dead 
body  of  a  vanquished  enemy  that  scarce  a  scalp  was  taken, 
except  by  the  rangers  and  pack  horse  drivers. 

' '  The  woods  now  being  cleared  and  the  pursuit  over,  the 
four  companies  took  possession  of  a  hill  in  our  front;  as 
soon  as  litters  could  be  made  for  the  wounded,  and  the 
flour  and  everything  destroyed,  which  for  want  of  horses 

[  44  ] 


FEONTIER  TIMES 

could  not  be  carried,  we  marched  without  molestation  to 
this  camp.  After  the  severe  correction  we  had  given  the 
savages  a  few  hours  before,  it  was  natural  to  suppose  we 
should  enjoy  some  rest;  but  we  had  hardly  fixed  our  camp 
when  they  fired  upon  us  again;  this  was  very  provoking. 
However,  the  light  Infantry  dispersed  them  before  they 
could  receive  orders  for  that  purpose. 

*'  I  hope  we  shall  be  no  more  disturbed,  for  if  we  have 
another  action  we  shall  hardly  be  able  to  carry  our 
wounded. 

' '  The  behavior  of  the  troops  on  this  occasion,  speaks  for 
itself  so  strongly,  that  for  me  to  attempt  their  eulogium 
would  but  detract  from  their  merit. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be  most  respectfully.  Sir  &c, 

''  HENRY  BOUQUET. 
'*  To  His  Excellency  Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst." 

This  battle  at  Bushy  Run,  gained  by  Colonel  Bouquet 
over  the  Delawares,  Shawanese,  Mingoes,  Wyandots, 
Mohikons,  Miamies  and  Ottawas,  on  the  fifth  and  sixth  of 
August,  1763,  was  of  vital  importance,  inasmuch  as  it 
broke  fatally  the  design  of  Pontiac.  Bouquet  marched 
over  the  twenty-five  remaining  miles  to  Fort  Pitt,  en- 
countering but  a  few  random  shots. 

The  relief  of  Fort  Pitt  closed  the  campaign. 

The  following  is  an  entry  made  in  Ecuyer's  orderly 
book: 

*'  Fort  Pitt,  August  11,  1763,  G.  0.  parole. 

"  Countersign.     Garrison  orders: 

''  The  guard  to  be  relieved  at  10  o'clock.  For  guard. 
Ensign  Price,  2  sergeants,  1  drummer  and  36  rank  and  file. 

'*  Colonel  Bouquet  orders  his  thanks  to  be  given  to  the 
officers,  soldiers  and  inhabitants  who  have  so  bravely  de- 
fended the  post  against  the  repeated  attacks  of  barbarians 
and  malicious  enemies.  Captain  Ecuyer  by  his  firm  and 
prudent  conduct  has  obtained  the  General's  entire  appro- 
bation and  it  is  with  the  greatest  satisfaction  that  the 
Colonel  informs  him  of  it.     The  Colonel  takes  a  particular 

[  45  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

pleasure  in  expressing  to  Major  Trent  how  agreeable  his 
services  and  those  performed  by  the  brave  militia  under 
his  command  are  to  him  and  returns  him  his  sincere  thanks 
for  the  ready  assistance  he  has  constantly  given  the  com- 
manding officer,  desiring  he  will  inform  his  officers  and 
men  of  the  grateful  sense  the  Colonel  has  of  their  behavior. 
Nothing  can  be  more  agreeable  to  the  Colonel  than  to  have 
to  represent  to  the  General  the  merit  of  the  officers  and 
men  who  have  contributed  to  the  preservation  of  this  im- 
portant post,  which  particularly  curbs  the  insolence  and 
pride  of  the  faithless  savages  and  continues  an  immovable 
barrier  against  the  impotence  of  their  rage  and  perfidy. 

''All  the  double  arms  employed  in  defense  of  this  post 
to  be  drawn  and  delivered  with  the  ammunition  to  the  offi- 
cer of  the  artillery  who  will  have  them  put  in  order.  All 
the  women  and  children  and  useless  people  to  hold  them- 
selves in  readiness  to-morrow  night  to  go  to  the  settlement. 
A  party  will  be  ready  to  reap  to-morrow  morning,  who  will 
be  covered  by  a  company  of  light  infantry. 

^'  The  effects  of  a  deceased  officer  of  the  Forty-second 
Regiment  are  to  be  sold  at  vendue  to-morrow  morning  in 
camp  at  10  o'clock. 

''  For  guard  to-morrow.  Lieutenant  Donelon,  1  sergeant, 
2  corporals,  1  drummer,  36  privates." 

Bouquet  distributed  his  men  among  the  posts  along  the 
eastern  communications.  The  winter  that  followed  was 
quiet,  but  in  the  spring  the  savages  again  commenced  their 
raids  and  devastations.  To  stamp  out  this  Indian  war 
General  Gage  sent  Colonel  Bradstreet  through  the  Lake 
District  to  Detroit;  while  Bouquet  was  ordered  down  the 
Ohio  to  penetrate  into  the  country  of  the  Shawanese  and 
Delawares. 

The  Pennsylvania  Assembly  was  less  dull  than  on  former 
occasions  to  the  condition  of  the  frontier  (due  perhaps  to 
the  uneasiness  the  "  Paxton  Boys  "  had  caused  in  their 
very  midst),  and  voted  three  hundred  men  to  guard  the 
frontier,  and  ordered  that  one  thousand  men  accompany 
Bouquet  to  the  west. 

Despite   all   Bouquet's   endeavors   it   was   the   fifth   of 

[  46  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

August  before  he  finally  completed  his  arrangements  and 
left  Carlisle.  He  had  about  five  hundred  ''  regulars," 
many  of  whom  had  been  tested  at  Bushy  Run  in  the 
previous  year,  and  a  thousand  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania 
volunteers;  the  latter  were  very  raw  and  many  deserted. 
Bouquet  and  his  command  arrived  at  Fort  Pitt  on  the 
seventeenth  of  September,  1764. 

Colonel  Bouquet  left  Fort  Pitt  on  the  second  of  October 
and  proceeded  along  the  Ohio  to  Beaver  creek,  then  almost 
directly  west  to  the  Muskingum  river,  following  its  course 
down  to  White  Woman's  creek  into  the  very  heart  of  the 
Shawanese  and  Delaware  country,  where  he  camped.  This 
formidable  army  struck  the  Indians  with  such  terror  that 
the  march  was  unmolested. 

Great  numbers  of  the  Delawares,  Shawanese  and  Senecas 
congregated  with  their  chiefs,  Gustaloga,  Guyasuta  and 
Turtle  Heart,  smoking  the  peace-pipe  and  abjectly  suing 
for  pardon.  Bouquet,  however,  angered  with  Bradstreet's 
laxity  and  understanding  from  experience  the  treacherous 
character  of  the  people  with  whom  he  was  dealing,  pro- 
claimed that  he  would  exterminate  them  unless  they 
brought  all  their  white  prisoners  in  within  twelve  days. 
There  was  much  speech  making;  but  Bouquet  was  inexora- 
ble, and,  by  the  ninth  of  November,  two  hundred  and  six 
prisoners  were  returned.  The  Shawanese  claimed  that 
many  of  their  warriors  were  off  hunting,  but  vowed  to 
bring  all  their  whites  to  Fort  Pitt  the  following  spring; 
this  contract  they  kept.  His  mission  being  accomplished. 
Bouquet  returned  to  Fort  Pitt  on  the  twenty-eighth  of 
November,  1764. 

General  Gage  reported  Bouquet's  expedition  to  Lord 
Halifax  on  the  thirteenth  of  December,  as  follows: 

"  The  Perfidy  of  the  Shawanese  and  Delawares,  and 
they  having  broken  the  ties  which  even  the  Savage  Nations 
hold  sacred  amongst  each  other,  required  vigorous  meas- 
ures to  reduce  them.  We  had  experienced  their  treachery 
so  often,  that  I  determined  to  make  no  peace  with  them, 
but  in  the  heart  of  their  Country,  and  upon  such  terms  as 

[  47  ] 


THE  HISTOBY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

should  make  it  as  secure  as  it  was  possible.  This  conduct 
has  produced  all  the  good  effects  which  could  be  wished  or 
expected  from  it.  Those  Indians  have  been  humbled  and 
reduced  to  accept  of  Peace  upon  the  terms  prescribed  to 
them,  in  such  a  manner  as  will  give  reputation  to  His 
Majesty's  Arms  amongst  the  several  Nations.  The  Regu- 
lar and  Provincial  Troops  under  Colonel  Bouquet,  having 
been  joined  by  a  good  body  of  Volunteers  from  Virginia, 
and  others  from  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  marched 
from  Fort  Pitt  the  beginning  of  October  and  got  to  Tus- 
caroras  about  the  fifteenth.  The  March  of  the  Troops  into 
their  country  threw  the  Savages  into  the  greatest  con- 
sternation, as  they  hoped  their  woods  would  protect  them 
and  had  boasted  of  the  Security  of  their  Situation  from 
our  attacks.  The  Indians  hovered  round  the  Troops  during 
their  March,  but  despairing  of  success  in  an  action  had 
recourse  to  Negotiations.  They  were  told  that  they  might 
have  Peace  but  every  Prisoner  in  their  possession  must 
first  be  delivered  up.  They  brought  in  near  twenty  and 
promised  to  deliver  the  Rest;  but  as  their  promises  were 
not  regarded  they  engaged  to  deliver  the  whole  on  the  first 
of  November,  at  the  Forks  of  the  Muskingham  (about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  Fort  Pitt),  the  centre  of  the 
Delaware  towns  and  near  to  the  most  considerable  settle- 
ment of  the  Shawanese.  Colonel  Bouquet  kept  them  in 
sight  and  moved  the  Camp  to  that  Place.  He  soon  obliged 
the  Delawares  and  some  broken  tribes  of  Mohikons,  Wian- 
dots  and  Mingoes  to  bring  in  all  their  prisoners,  even  to 
the  Children  born  of  White  women,  and  to  tie  those  who 
were  grown  as  savage  as  themselves  and  unwilling  to 
leave  them,  and  bring  them  bound  to  the  Camp.  They  were 
told  that  they  must  appoint  deputies  to  go  to  Sir  William 
Johnson  to  receive  such  terms  as  should  be  imposed  upon 
them,  which  the  Nations  should  agree  to  ratify;  and,  for 
the  security  of  their  performance  of  this,  and  that  no 
further  Hostilities  should  be  committed,  a  number  of  their 
Chiefs  should  remain  in  our  hands.  The  above  Nations 
subscribed  to  these  terms;  but  the  Shawanese  were  the 
most  obstinate  and  were  particularly  averse  to  the  giving 
of  Hostages.      But  finding  that  their  obstinacy  had  no 

[  48  ] 


p 
<y 

o 

P5 

a 
??; 
o 
►J 
o 
o 

CQ 

B 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

effect  and  would  only  tend  to  their  destruction,  the  Troops 
having  penetrated  into  the  Heart  of  their  Country,  they 
at  length  became  sensible  that  there  was  no  safety  but  in 
Submission  and  were  obliged  to  stoop  to  the  same  condi- 
tion as  the  other  nations.  They  immediately  gave  up  forty 
prisoners  and  promised  that  the  Rest  should  be  sent  to 
Fort  Pitt  in  the  Spring.  This  last  not  being  admitted,  the 
immediate  Restitution  of  all  Prisoners  being  the  sine  qua 
non  of  peace,  it  was  agreed  that  parties  should  be  sent  from 
the  Army  into  their  towns,  to  collect  the  Prisoners  and 
conduct  them  to  Fort  Pitt. 

''  They  delivered  six  of  the  principal  Chiefs  as  hostages 
into  our  Hands  and  appointed  their  deputies  to  go  to  Sir 
William  Johnson,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Rest.  The 
number  of  prisoners  already  delivered  exceeds  two  hun- 
dred and  it  was  expected  that  our  Parties  would  bring 
near  one  hundred  more  from  the  Shawanese  Towns.  These 
conditions  seem  sufficient  proofs  of  the  Sincerity  and 
Humiliation  of  those  Nations,  and  in  justice  to  Colonel 
Bouquet  I  must  testify  the  Obligations  I  have  to  him,  and 
that  nothing  but  the  firm  and  steady  conduct  which  he 
observed  in  all  his  transactions  with  those  treacherous 
savages  would  ever  have  brought  to  a  serious  Peace. 

' '  I  must  flatter  myself  that  the  Country  is  restored  to  its 
former  Tranquillity  and  that  a  general,  and,  it  is  hoped, 
lasting  Peace  is  concluded  with  all  the  Indian  Nations  who 
have  taken  up  Arms  against  His  Majesty. 

*'  I  remain,  etc., 

'^THOMAS  GAGE.»» 

Though  Bouquet  put  an  end  to  the  *'  Conspiracy  of 
Pontiac,"  the  Pennsylvania  border  could  scarcely  be 
termed  tranquil,  despite  the  fact  that  General  Gage  flattered 
himself  that  it  might  be  so  considered;  for  the  frontier  was 
disturbed  and  agitated  until  freed  from  dread  of  the 
Indians  by  General  Anthony  Wayne. 

The  only  existing  monument  testifying  to  the  English 
dominion  in  Pittsburgh  is  the  small  five-sided  brick  redoubt 
built  by  Bouquet,  bearing  a  tablet  inscribed  ''  Coll.  Bouquet 
1764." 

4  [  49  J 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

However,  Bouquet  had  the  satisfaction  of  being  appre- 
ciated; the  Legislative  bodies  of  Pennsylvania  and  Vir- 
ginia accorded  him  thanks. 


*'  The  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania. 

'*  In  Assembly,  January  Fifteenth,  1765, 

**  To  the  Honorable  Henry  Bouquet,  Esq.,  Commander-in- 
chief  of  His  Majesty's  Forces  in  the  Southern  Depart- 
ment of  America. 

*'  The  Address  of  the  Representatives  of  the  Freemen  of 

the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  in  General 

Assembly  met. 

'  *  Sir.  —  The  representatives  of  the  freemen  of  the 
province  of  Pennsylvania,  in  general  assembly  met,  being 
informed  that  you  intend  shortly  to  embark  for  England, 
and  moved  with  a  due  sense  of  the  important  services  you 
have  rendered  to  his  Majesty,  his  northern  colonies  in 
general,  and  to  this  province  in  particular,  during  the  late 
wars  with  the  French  and  barbarous  Indians,  in  the  re- 
markable factory  over  the  savage  enemy  united  to  oppose 
you,  near  Bushy  Run,  in  August  1763,  when  on  your  march 
for  the  relief  of  Pittsburgh,  owing,  under  God,  to  your 
intrepidity  and  superior  skill  in  command,  together  with 
the  bravery  of  your  officers  and  little  army ;  as  also  in  your 
late  march  to  the  country  of  the  savage  nations,  with  the 
troops  under  your  direction;  thereby  striking  terror 
through  the  numerous  Indian  tribes  around  you ;  laying  the 
foundation  for  a  lasting  as  well  as  an  honorable  peace  with 
them;  and  reducing  from  savage  captivity  upwards  of  two 
hundred  of  our  christian  brethren,  prisoners  among  them, 
these  eminent  services  and  your  constant  attention  to  the 
civil  rights  of  His  Majesty's  subjects  in  this  province, 
demand.  Sir,  the  grateful  tribute  of  thanks  from  all  good 
men;  and  therefore  we,  the  representatives  of  the  freemen 
of  Pennsylvania,  unanimously  for  ourselves,  and  in  behalf 
of  the  people  of  this  province,  do  return  you  our  most 
sincere  and  hearty  thanks  for  these  your  great  services, 

[  50  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

wishing  you  a  safe  and  pleasant  voyage  to  England,  with 
a  kind  and  gracious  reception  from  his  Majesty." 
' '  Signed  by  Order  of  the  House, 

''  JOSEPH  FOX,  Speaker." 

General  Gage,  prior  to  the  formal  taking  over  of  the 
Illinois  country  from  the  French,  sent  George  Croghan 
west  to  conciliate  the  Indians  with  presents.  Croghan  set 
out  from  Fort  Pitt  on  the  fifteenth  of  May,  1765.  He  was 
eminently  successful  in  his  mission,  and  Captain  Sterling 
with  the  Forty-second  Highland  Regiment  followed  him 
during  the  summer  to  Fort  Chartres.  After  this  the 
Indian  trade  with  the  several  nations  reopened.  In  the 
latter  part  of  April,  1766,  Colonel  Croghan  distributed 
presents  among  them  amounting  to  several  thousand 
dollars. 

There  was  little  excitement  now  at  Fort  Pitt;  the 
monotony  was  varied  by  occasional  Indian  conferences 
and  warning  squatters  off  the  Indian  reservations.  But 
despite  military  threats  and  removals  by  force,  the  settling 
on  Indian  lands  continued,  even  in  the  face  of  an  Act  passed 
February  third,  1768,  which  made  the  offense  punishable 
with  death. 

Finding  it  impossible  to  control  the  settlers,  who  re- 
turned as  soon  as  the  soldiers  that  ejected  them  were  out 
of  sight,  it  was  decided  to  hold  a  conference  with  the 
Indians  with  the  view  to  purchasing  this  territory.  Ac- 
accordingly,  a  conference  was  held  at  Fort  Stanwix,  New 
York,  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  October,  1768,  at  which  Sir 
William  Johnson  presided,  and  to  which  New  Jersey, 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  sent  commissioners.  The 
chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations,  Shawanese,  and  Delawares  were 
present.  The  result  was  the  purchase  by  Thomas  Penn 
and  Richard  Penn,  for  ten  thousand  dollars,  of  the  Indian 
lands  lying  west  from  the  Susquehanna,  embracing  the  dis- 
puted territory  of  Pittsburgh  and  its  environs.  The 
following  spring  a  land  office  was  opened  in  Pittsburgh 
and  immigration  increased  rapidly. 

The  cause  of  the  trouble  having  been  removed  by  this 
purchase  of  the  Penns,  there  appeared  to  be  no  necessity 

[  51  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

for  the  maintenance  of  a  garrison  at  Fort  Pitt.  Accord- 
ingly, General  Gage  ordered  Major  Edmonson,  commandant 
at  that  time,  to  abandon  Fort  Pitt,  October,  1772.  The 
fortification  was  not  destroyed,  but  Major  Edmonson 
sold  everything  that  could  be  disposed  of  for  fifty  pounds. 
New  York  currency.  Only  a  corporal  and  a  few  men  were 
left  in  the  place. 

During  the  latter  part  of  1773,  Lord  Dunmore,  Governor 
of  Virginia,  ordered  John  Connolly,  as  Captain  Command- 
ant of  Militia,  to  take  possession  of  Fort  Pitt  and  rename 
it  Fort  Dunmore.  The  dispute  between  Pennsylvania  and 
Virginia,  regarding  their  respective  right  to  the  territory 
about  the  Ohio  headwaters,  began  as  early  as  1752,  but 
through  the  French  and  Indian  War  and  Pontiao's  War, 
had  been  held  in  abeyance.  John  Murray,  Lord  Dunmore,  a 
scheming,  avaricious  and  unscrupulous  man  and  Governor 
of  Virginia,  was  the  immediate  precipitator  of  the  trouble. 
John  Connolly,  although  by  birth  a  Pennsylvanian,  was  his 
willing  and  energetic  tool.  Upon  his  arrival  at  Fort  Pitt, 
Connolly  issued  a  pompous  proclamation,  calling  on  the 
militia  to  meet  him  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  January,  1774; 
declaring  Pittsburgh  to  be  embraced  in  Augusta  county, 
Virginia.  For  this  high-handed  proceeding,  Arthur  St. 
Clair,  a  magistrate  of  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  agent  for  the  Penns,  arrested  Connolly  and  committed 
bim  to  jail  in  Hannastown,  from  which,  however,  he  was  re- 
leased by  entering  bail  for  his  appearance  at  court. 

Pennsylvania,  or  rather  the  Penns,  claimed  the  territory 
by  a  charter  from  Charles  II.,  dated  1681,  which  assigned 
the  Delaware  as  the  eastern  boundary  and  the  * '  said  lands 
to  extend  westward  five  degrees  of  longitude  to  be  com- 
puted from  the  said  eastern  bounds ; ' '  which  line  would  lie 
five  or  six  miles  west  of  the  confluence  of  the  Allegheny  and 
Monongahela  rivers.  They  claimed,  not  only  by  this  charter, 
but  particularly  by  the  purchase  of  the  land  at  the  Treaty 
with  the  Indians,  held  at  Fort  Stanwix,  New  York,  1768, 
when,  ^'  in  consideration  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  they 
granted  to  Thomas  Penn  and  Richard  Penn  all  that  part  of 
the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  not  heretofore  purchased  of 
the  Indians,  within  the  said  general  boundary  line,"  that  is, 

[  52  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

on  the  east  side  of  the  Allegheny  river  from  Kittanning 
south  to  the  fortieth  degree  of  latitude.  Thomas  Walker, 
Esquire,  was  present  as  Commissioner  from  Virginia,  when 
this  purchase  was  made  by  the  Penns,  and  interposed  no 
objection. 

Virginia  claimed  under  a  grant  made  by  James  I.,  in 
1609,  to  a  company  of  Londoners,  which  grant  had  been 
annulled  by  the  desire  of  the  company  in  1624 ;  and,  by  the 
endeavors  of  the  Ohio  Company  to  occupy  the  disputed  ter- 
ritory in  1753  and  1754. 

A  long  and  futile  correspondence  ensued  between  Gov- 
ernor Penn  and  Lord  Dunmore.  In  1774  Dunmore  was 
engaged  in  the  Indian  war  generally  known  as  ''  Duu- 
more's  War." 

JEneas  Mackay  wrote  to  Governor  Penn  on  June  four- 
teenth, 1774:  "  the  deplorable  state  of  affairs  in  this  part 
of  your  government  is  truly  distressing.  We  are  robbed, 
insulted  and  dragooned  by  Connolly  and  his  militia,  in  this 
place  and  its  environs." 

Virginia  treated  the  disputed  territory  and  the  adjacent 
country  west  of  the  Ohio  as  part  of  Augusta  county,  during 
the  years  1774, 1775  and  1776 ;  held  courts,  levied  taxes  and 
exercised  judicial  functions  generally. 

' '  To  form  an  adequate  conception  of  the  condition  of  the 
inhabitants  in  this  place,  at  that  time,  we  must  take  into 
view,  not  only  the  oppressive  conduct  of  Connolly,  but  also 
bear  in  mind  that  the  War  of  the  Revolution  was  rapidly 
approaching  and  that  hostilities  between  the  Indians  and 
Virginians  were  actually  raging  at  the  time.  The  Indians, 
it  is  true,  were  understood  to  say  they  would  not  touch 
Pennsylvania;  but  still  they  must  have  felt  much  of  the 
embarrassments  arising  out  of  the  Indian  war.  So  great 
was  the  anxiety  and  distress  of  the  adherents  of  the  Pro- 
prietary, that  they  at  one  time  thought  seriously  of  leaving 
this  place,  and  removing  to  Kittanning,  which  lay  in  an- 
other manor.  Another  project  was  to  raise  a  stockade 
around  the  town  of  Pittsburgh,  being  that  part  of  our  city 
which  lies  between  Water  and  Second  streets,  and  Market 
and  Ferry  streets.  Neither  project  was  carried  into  execu- 
tion and  I  merely  mention  them  as  signs  of  the  times,  and  as 
evidences  of  the  state  of  feeling  then  prevailing  here." 

[  53  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Early  in  the  year  1775  it  was  evident  that  the  power  of 
Dunmore  and  Connolly  was  declining. 

But  this  lesser  strife,  the  boundary  controversy,  shrank 
out  of  sight  in  the  great  struggle  for  independence,  which 
was  beginning.  Meetings  were  held  in  Pittsburgh  and  Han- 
nastown  on  the  sixteenth  of  May,  at  which  "  the  spirited  be- 
havior of  their  brethern  of  New  England  ' '  was  ' '  cordially 
approved, ' '  and  it  was  unanimously  resolved  that  it  was  the 
''  indispensable  duty  of  every  American  "  to  resist  the 
tyranny  of  the  British  Parliament. 

The  disturbance  attracted  much  attention,  even  in  the 
Second  Continental  Congress,  from  whence  a  circular  was  is- 
sued on  the  twenty-fifth  of  July,  1775,  which  read,  in  part : 
**  We  recommend  it  to  you  that  all  bodies  of  armed  men, 
kept  up  by  either  party  be  dismissed;  and  that  all  those  on 
either  side,  who  are  in  confinement  or  on  bail,  for  taking 
loart  in  this  contest,  be  discharged."  On  the  head  of  this 
the  Virginia  Provincial  Council,  on  the  seventh  of  the  suc- 
ceeding August,  ordered  Captain  John  Neville  with  one 
hundred  men  to  take  possession  of  Fort  Pitt.  The  Penn- 
sylvanians  had  been  inclined  to  adopt  a  more  conciliatory 
attitude  under  the  influence  of  the  advice  of  Congress,  but 
this  move  on  the  part  of  Virginia  aggravated  them  exceed- 
ingly. Arthur  St.  Clair  wrote  to  Grovernor  Penn :  ' '  This 
step  has  already,  as  might  be  expected,  served  to  exasperate 
the  dispute  between  the  inhabitants  of  the  country  and 
entirely  destroyed  the  prospect  of  a  cessation  of  our 
grievances,  from  the  salutary  and  conciliating  advice  of  the 
delegates  in  their  circular  letter." 

But  Captain  John  Neville  was  a  Whig  and  had  taken  part 
in  the  meeting  of  May  sixteenth,  so  while  he  was  there  by 
order  of  Virginia  —  Virginia  was  a  sister  State  and  held  in 
community  of  interest  with  Pennsylvania  feelings  of  in- 
dignation and  revolt  against  the  oppression  of  England  — 
Fort  Pitt  was  safe,  in  the  keeping  of  Neville,  from  the 
scheming  and  plotting  of  the  arrant  Tory,  Connolly,  who 
had  laid  some  plan  of  giving  it  over  to  the  English. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  December,  1776,  the  Virginia  Legis- 
lature passed  the  following  resolution:  "  That  the 
meridian  line,  drawn  from  the  head  of  the  Potomac  to  the 

[  54  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

northwest  angle  of  Maryland,  be  extended  due  north  until 
it  intersects  the  latitude  of  forty  degrees,  and  from  thence 
the  southern  boundary  shall  be  extended  on  the  said  forty 
degrees  of  latitude,  until  the  distance  of  five  degrees  of 
longitude  from  the  Delaware  shall  be  accomplished  thereon ; 
and  from  the  said  point,  five  degrees,  in  either  or  every 
point,  according  to  the  meanderings  of  the  Delaware,  or 
(which  is  easier  and  better  for  both)  from  proper  points 
or  angles  on  the  Delaware,  with  intermediate  straight 
lines." 

John  Penn  had  claimed  from  the  beginning  and  through- 
out the  entire  controversy  that  '^  the  western  extent  of  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania,  by  the  Royal  Grant,  is  five  de- 
grees of  longitude  from  the  river  Delaware,  which  is  at  its 
eastern  boundary."  The  malignity  and  bitterness  of  the 
contest  were  undoubtedly  due  to  Dunmore  and  Connolly. 

This  notice  appeared  in  the  Pittsburgh  Gazette  of  Sep- 
tember thirtieth,  1786: 

^'  Pennsylvania  and  Vieginia  Boundary. 

"  The  commissioners  appointed  to  extend  and  complete 
the  line  of  the  western  boundary  of  Pennsylvania  by  as- 
tronomical observations  have  completed  said  line  and  are 
returned  to  this  town  on  their  way  to  their  respective 
homes.  We  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  our  readers  that 
the  line  extends  near  one  mile  and  a  half  into  Lake  Erie." 
This  was  the  end,  save  a  proclamation  regarding  land 
patents. 

The  bitter  boundary  controversy  melted  before  the  glare 
of  the  heat  that  flamed  into  light  against  Great  Britain  for 
the  wrongs  she  had  perpetrated  against  her  own  sons, 
whose  only  intent  had  been  to  add  the  New  World  to  her 
glory. 

At  the  meeting  on  the  sixteenth  of  May,  1775,  of  the  in- 
habitants of  "Augusta  County,"  as  that  part  of  Westmore- 
land county  was  termed  by  Virginia,  the  following  men 
were  chosen  to  represent  the  district:  George  Croghan, 
John  Campbell,  Edward  Ward,  Thomas  Smallman,  John 
Cannon,  John  McCullough,  William  Gee,  George  Valand- 

[  55  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

ingham,  John  Gibson,  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Edward  Cook, 
William  Crawford,  Devereanx  Smith,  John  Anderson, 
David  Rodgers,  Jacob  Vanmetre,  Henry  Enoch,  James 
Ennis,  George  Wilson,  William  Vance,  David  Shepherd, 
William  Elliot,  Richmond  Willis,  Samuel  Semple,  John 
Ormsby,  Richard  McMaher,  John  Neville,  and  John  Swear- 
ingen.  They  endorsed  the  action  of  the  eastern  states,  and 
many  men  went  east  to  join  the  army,  but  the  dread  that  lay 
in  the  hearts  of  the  people  of  this  section  was  of  the  Indians 
rather  than  of  the  British. 

A  conference  was  held  early  in  July,  1776,  with  the  In- 
dians to  cultivate  their  friendship,  whereon  Guyasuta  guar- 
anteed that  his  people  would  allow  neither  the  Americans 
nor  the  British  to  march  an  army  through  their  country. 
But  there  was  never  a  moment  when  reliance  could  be 
placed  on  the  stability  of  the  most  solemn  promises  of  the 
savages.  The  Indians  in  the  Detroit  district  were  the  allies 
of  the  English,  and  Lieutenant-Governor  Henry  Hamilton, 
the  commandant  of  that  place,  offered  a  bounty  for  Ameri- 
can scalps.  Throughout  the  autumn  of  1776-77  the  most 
serious  trouble  with  the  Indians  was  apprehended,  but  the 
winter  passed  without  notable  event. 

The  importance  of  maintaining  Fort  Pitt  had  been  real- 
ized, since  the  opening  of  the  Revolution,  as  a  barrier  be- 
tween the  British  at  Detroit  and  the  east ;  and  its  position 
as  a  frontier  Indian  post.  Captain  John  Neville,  with  his 
hundred  men,  held  it  until  June  first,  1777,  when  Brigadier 
General  Edward  Hand  took  it  over  and  planned  an  expedi- 
tion into  the  Indian  country.  Both  men  and  supplies  were 
difficult  to  obtain  and  he  was  compelled  to  be  satisfied  with 
assisting  the  inhabitants  of  his  immediate  district.  The 
Indians  grew  bolder  and  bolder  in  their  raids  and  devasta- 
tions. Provisions  were  so  scarce  in  the  January  of  1778 
that  bacon  sold  for  a  dollar  a  pound  and  flour  for  sixteen 
dollars  a  barrel. 

Fort  Pitt  was  reinforced  in  the  spring  of  1778 ;  General 
Mcintosh  took  command  and  General  Hand  returned  to  the 
east.  Fort  Mcintosh,  at  the  mouth  of  Beaver  creek,  was 
erected  during  the  summer.  On  the  eighth  of  October, 
Fort  Mcintosh  was  made  headquarters  for  the  army  of  the 

[  56  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

Western  Department;  and  from  thence  one  thousand  men 
started  for  Detroit,  but  the  supplies  failing  when  they  had 
proceeded  only  seventy  miles,  they  erected  Fort  Laurens 
and  remained  throughout  the  winter. 

Colonel  Daniel  Brodhead  succeeded  General  Mcintosh 
in  charge  of  the  Western  Department,  during  March,  1779. 
On  the  eleventh  of  August,  with  about  six  hundred  men,  he 
undertook  an  expedition  against  the  Munsies  and  Senecas 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  state.  The  raid  was  eminently 
successful,  as  no  men  were  lost,  and  he  took  about  three 
thousand  dollars  worth  of  plunder.  In  October,  Brodhead 
informed  Washington  that  he  had  provisions  enough  for  a 
thousand  men  for  but  three  months.  Owing  to  the  scarcity 
of  provisions  and  the  depreciation  of  the  currency,  it  must 
be  remembered  that  the  country  was  at  this  time  in  a  most 
deplorable  condition,  and  an  effect  that  was  so  apparent 
at  the  centers  could  not  but  be  even  more  exaggerated  on 
the  frontier;  consequently  the  difficulty  of  subsistence  at 
Fort  Pitt  was  a  serious  matter.  Colonel  Brodhead,  through 
his  effort  to  care  for  his  garrison,  and  perhaps  through  a 
tactless  way  of  accomplishing  it,  brought  on  himself  the 
enmity  of  the  citizens  of  Pittsburgh,  and  a  disaffection  also 
arose  in  the  garrison,  in  which  Captain  Gibson  took  a  prom- 
inent part.  The  trouble  assumed  such  proportions  that  the 
citizens  sent  a  petition  "  To  His  Excellency,  the  President 
and  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania. ' ' 

"  The  representation  and  memorial  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town  of  Pittsburgh,  humbly  sheweth : 

' '  That  we  are  greatly  alarmed  with  the  claim  of  Colonel 
Brodhead,  Commanding  Officer  at  the  Garrison  of  Fort 
Pitt,  assuming  authority  to  exercise  military  power  over 
this  Town,  which  he  conceives  he  has  a  right  to  do,  within 
the  round  of  his  Patroles.  In  many  cases  he  has  actually 
exercised  this  authority  taking  away  the  property,  con- 
fining the  persons  of  citizens,  and  ordering  them  to  be  tried 
by  court  martial.  *  *  *  "  The  petition  proceeds  to  re- 
view in  detail  the  grievances  of  the  civilians  at  the  hands 
of  the  military,  emphasizing  especially  the  part  of  Colonel 
Brodhead.    The  garrisons  of  Fort  Pitt  and  Fort  Mcintosh 

[  57  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

were  in  a  state  of  mutiny;  Colonel  Brodhead  wrote  to  Gen- 
eral Washington  on  September  sixth,  1781,  *'  things 
sre  in  utmost  confusion."  Whereon,  General  Washington 
relieved  him,  and  General  William  Irvine  took  command 
at  Fort  Pitt,  October,  1781,  and,  with  decision,  brought 
order  out  of  the  confusion. 

The  surrender  of  Cornwallis  was  reported  at  Fort  Pitt, 
on  the  sixth  of  November,  when  General  Irvine  had  the 
pleasure  to  congratulate  the  "  Troops  "  and  ordered, 
"  Thirteen  pieces  of  artillery  will  be  fired  this  day  at  one 
o'clock,  in  the  Fort,  at  which  time  the  Troops  will  be  under 
arms,  with  their  colors  displayed.  The  Commissaries  will 
issue  a  gill  of  liquor  extraordinary  to  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates  on  this  joyful  occasion," 

The  end  of  the  struggle  with  Great  Britain  in  no  way 
marked  a  cessation  of  hostilities  with  the  Indians.  General 
Clarke  planned  the  taking  of  Detroit  in  1781,  but  the  usual 
**  lack  of  supplies  "  defeated  it. 

General  Irvine  repaired  Fort  Pitt  during  the  summer  of 
1782.  In  October  of  the  next  year,  his  garrison  having  been 
furloughed,  General  Irvine  retired  and  Major  Joseph  Mar- 
bury,  with  a  small  detachment,  remained  in  charge  of  Fort 
Pitt. 

Despite  the  border  raids  and  ravages,  the  growth  of  the 
town  of  Pittsburgh,  in  the  years  succeeding  the  Revolution, 
was  astonishing.  And  was,  in  part,  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
government  redeemed  its  depreciated  gold  and  silver  cer- 
tificates from  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Pennsylvania 
line  by  receiving  them  in  payment  for  unlocated  lands,  ter- 
ritory lying  west  and  northwest  of  the  confluence  of  the 
Allegheny  and  Ohio,  as  far  north  as  Pine  creek  and  west  to 
Beaver  creek.  These  lands  came  to  be  known  as  ''  depre- 
ciation lands,"  and  *'  donation  lands,"  and  were  referred 
to  as  the  ''  struck  district." 

General  Harmar  headed  an  expedition  of  about  fourteen 
hundred  men  to  the  Maumee,  in  the  autoumn  of  1790,  which 
was  unsuccessful.  General  Scott  marched  to  the  Wabash 
with  seven  hundred  and  fifty  men  the  next  summer.  And 
General  Arthur  St.  Clair,  with  about  twenty-three  hundred 
men,   was    disastrously   defeated   by   the   Indians    in   the 

[  58  ] 


Fo\J   fCL^e.tVQ. 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

Wabash  country  in  the  November  of  1791,  The  govern- 
ment now  realized  its  error  in  leaving  Pittsburgh  without 
military  protection.  Fort  Pitt  had  fallen  into  ruin,  the 
fear  of  Indian  attack  revived  and  the  settlers  besought  the 
government  for  a  garrison.  Under  orders  from  General 
Knox,  the  Secretary  of  War,  Major  Isaac  Craig,  then 
Quartermaster  U.  S.  Army,  in  that  same  year  was  ordered 
to  build  a  new  defense  in  a  position  to  protect  the  town  and 
to  secure  in  safety  public  stores  forwarded  at  different 
times  by  the  Government.  The  site  chosen  by  the  Govern- 
ment was  located  on  what  is  now  Penn  avenue  and  Ninth 
street,  on  the  property  now  occupied  by  W.  G.  Johnson  & 
Co.,  because  it  is  said  the  Penns  desired  Fort  Fayette  to 
be  located  beyond  the  town  limits,  believing  the  value  of 
their  property  would  be  enhanced  by  the  absence^of  a  mili- 
tary post  at  the  point ;  particularly,  if  they  could  advertise 
in  the  eastern  papers  that  there  was  so  little  danger  from 
the  Indians  that  there  was  no  longer  a  garrison  in  Pitts- 
burgh. The  fort  was  completed  by  Major  Craig  and  occu- 
pied by  Captain  Hughes  and  a  detachment  of  the  Second 
U.  S.  Regiment  on  May  first,  1792;  Major  Craig  had  named, 
in  his  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  the  new  fortification 
' '  Fort  Lafayette, ' '  but  the  name  was  later  changed  by  the 
War  Department  to  ''  Fort  Fayette."  It  was  but  a  little 
while  after  Captain  Hughes  had  assumed  command  that 
General  Wayne  arrived,  with  two  troops  then  in  pursuit  of 
the  Indians,  relieving  him  of  command.  (In  August,  1813, 
an  Act  of  Congress  was  passed  for  its  abandonment  and 
for  the  sale  of  the  property.  In  1815  the  old  fort  had  dis- 
appeared, and  the  property,  under  this  act,  was  sold,  the 
Government  retaining  a  small  portion,  which  it  still  owns 
and  is  now  used  as  a  recruiting  station  for  the  U.  S.  Army.) 

The  conditions  in  Pittsburgh  again  became  complex,  for, 
in  addition  to  the  border  warfare  with  the  Indians,  they 
were  convulsed  with  local  difficulties  brought  about  by  the 
resistance  of  the  excise  on  distilled  spirits. 

Congress,  in  1791,  in  the  face  of  much  popular  opposi- 
tion, accepted  the  financial  plan  of  Alexander  Hamilton, 
one  clause  of  which  levied  an  excise  on  spirits,  distilled 
from  grain,  of  nine  to  twenty-five  cents  per  gallon,  accord- 

[  59  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

ing  to  their  strength.  Distilling  was,  at  this  time,  the 
most  lucrative  business  in  western  Pennsylvania;  this  was 
due  to  the  great  cost  of  transportation  across  the  moun- 
tains and  to  the  fact  that  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  was 
in  Spanish  territory.  The  soil  was  rich  and  produced  the 
various  grains  with  little  labor,  but  there  was  no  outlet, 
no  market.  In  Allegheny,  Fayette,  Washington  and  West- 
moreland counties  about  one-fifth  of  the  farmers  were  dis- 
tillers ;  more  whiskey  was  made  here  in  proportion  to  the 
population  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  country.  The 
people,  therefore,  felt  the  whiskey  tax  to  be  oppressive  and 
unjust,  owing  to  the  obstacles  in  transportation  which 
practically  barred  them  from  the  general  market.  The  in- 
habitants were  largely  Scotch-Irish  and  they  quickly  re- 
sented the  restriction.  Public  meetings  were  held,  resolu- 
tions were  passed  and  ordered  published,  to  the  following 
effect,  in  the  Pittsburgh  Gazette: 

*'Any  person  who  had  accepted  or  might  accept  an  office 
under  Congress  in  order  to  carry  the  law  into  effect,  should 
be  considered  inimical  to  the  interests  of  the  country,  and 
citizens  to  treat  every  person  accepting  such  office  with 
contempt,  and  absolutely  to  refuse  all  kinds  of  communica- 
tion or  intercourse  with  him,  and  withhold  from  him  all  aid, 
support  and  comfort. ' ' 

Some  prominent  men  of  this  section  were  identified  with 
the  resistance.  The  collector  for  the  counties  of  Allegheny 
and  Washington,  Robert  Johnson,  was  waylaid  on  the  fifth 
of  September,  1791,  and  tarred  and  feathered.  On  the 
fifteenth  of  September,  1792,  the  President  issued  a  procla- 
mation "  enjoining  all  persons  to  submit  to  the  law,"  and 
the  Governor  resolved:  ''  First,  to  prosecute  delinquents; 
second,  to  seize  unexcised  spirits  on  their  way  to  market; 
and  third,  to  make  no  purchases  for  the  army  except  of 
such  spirits  as  had  paid  duty."  Personal  outrages  to  the 
collectors  continued,  but  regard  for  the  law  gained,  rather 
than  lost,  throughout  the  year  1793.  ''  Tom  the  Tinker  " 
was  the  popular  phrase  used  to  designate  the  opposers  of 
the  whiskey  law. 

The  opposition  to  the  law,  until  July  fifteenth,  1794,  may 
be  considered  a  resistance;  then  for  a  short  time  features 

[  60  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

of  an  insurrection  were  apparent,  when  Major  Lenox,  the 
marshal,  with  the  inspector,  General  Neville,  undertook  to 
serve  a  writ  on  a  farmer  named  Miller,  living  near  Peters' 
creek. 

Lenox  had  successfully  served  his  writs  in  Allegheny 
county,  but  this  one  was  resisted  by  Miller  and  his  neigh- 
bors, who  resented,  it  is  generally  considered,  the  presence 
of  General  Neville.  General  Neville  had  been  made  in- 
spector for  reason  of  his  deserved  popularity,  hoping  to 
render  the  office  less  offensive  to  the  people  through  his 
personality.  Miller,  or  one  of  the  five  or  six  men  with 
him,  fired,  it  is  believed,  without  any  intention  of  harming 
either  Neville  or  Lenox,  so  long  as  they  did  not  persist  in 
serving  the  writ. 

At  a  public  meeting,  held  that  day  at  Mingo  creek,  this  act 
of  resistance  was  reported  and  it  roused  about  thirty  young 
men,  who,  led  by  John  Holcroft,  went  to  General  Neville's 
house  early  the  next  morning,  demanding  his  official  papers 
and  commission;  these  were  refused  and  shots  were  ex- 
changed. A  public  meeting  was  called,  and  a  force,  under 
Major  MacFarlane  (lately  an  officer  in  the  Revolution), 
marched  to  the  house  of  Neville,  which  was  now  defended 
by  Major  Kirkpatriek  and  ten  United  States  soldiers  from 
the  garrison  in  Pittsburgh.  MacFarlane  demanded  Ne- 
ville, but  Neville  was  not  there;  then  Neville's  papers  were 
required,  but  Kirkpatriek  said  he  would  not  deliver  them, 
and  that  he  could  defend  them.  In  the  skirmish  which  en- 
sued MacFarlane  was  killed;  infuriated  by  this,  some  of 
the  insurgents  set  fire  to  the  bam,  which  spread  and  de- 
stroyed the  dwelling  house  and  small  buildings.  Major 
Kirkpatriek  and  his  men  surrendered.  Another  meeting 
was  held  in  the  Mingo  creek  meeting  house;  David  Brad- 
ford and  Colonel  John  Marshall  of  Washington  (Pa.)  at- 
tended, also  Messrs.  Parkinson,  Cook  and  Brackenridge. 
Great  indignation  was  expressed  for  the  death  of  MacFar- 
lane; and  a  circular  letter  was  sent  to  the  colonels  of  the 
regiments  in  the  western  counties  arranging  Braddock's 
Field  as  a  rendezvous.  It  has  been  estimated  that  probably 
seven  thousand  men  gathered  there  in  response,  August 
first,  1794. 

[  61  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Consternation  was  rife  in  Pittsburgh,  lest  the  mob  should 
come  in  and  burn  the  town.  The  insurgents  searched  the 
mail  and  found  letters  from  Colonel  Presley  Neville,  Mr. 
Brison,  Mr.  Edward  Day  and  General  Gibson,  which  dis- 
pleased them,  and  the  gentlemen  named  were  compelled  to 
leave  the  town.  David  Bradford  even  went  so  far  as  to 
suggest  that  Pittsburgh  should  be  entered  and  the  garrison 
taken,  but  this  found  small  favor.  Speeches  and  sugges- 
tions took  up  the  greater  part  of  the  day,  with  Brackenridge 
and  Cook  arguing  against  any  rash  action.  The  result 
was,  the  insurgents  marched  mutteringly  into  Pittsburgh 
and,  through  the  manipulation  of  Brackenridge  and  the 
grace  of  a  *'  treat  "  of  whiskey,  they  were  quietly  ferried 
across  the  Monongahela,  leaving  the  town  unharmed. 

This  movement,  though  somewhat  ludicrous  in  its  pro- 
ceedings and  harmless  in  its  outcome,  caused  President 
Washington  to  issue  a  proclamation  on  the  seventh  of 
August,  calling  out  the  militia,  ' '  feeling  the  deepest  regret 
for  the  occasion,  but  withal,  the  most  solemn  conviction 
that  the  essential  interests  of  the  Union  demanded  it;  that 
the  very  existence  of  government,  and  the  fundamental 
principles  of  social  order  are  involved  in  the  issue,  *  *  * 
all  persons  being  insurgents,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of 
September,  to  disperse  and  retire  peaceably  to  their  re- 
spective abodes." 

Directed  by  the  President,  Pennsylvania  accoutred  fifty- 
two  hundred  men.  New  Jersey  twenty-one  hundred,  Mary- 
land twenty-three  hundred  and  fifty,  and  Virginia  thirty- 
three  hundred.  Governor  Mifflin  called  the  Assembly  of 
Pennsylvania  in  special  session,  and  ordered  the  State 
militia  to  be  put  in  readiness  with  all  haste.  James  Ross, 
Jasper  Yeates  and  William  Bradford  were  appointed  com- 
missioners to  the  western  counties,  and  Colonel  Cook, 
Albert  Gallatin,  H.  H.  Brackenridge  and  Judge  Edgar  con- 
ferred with  them  on  behalf  of  the  insurgents.  Wliile  these 
gentlemen  had  been  associated  with  the  insurgents,  they 
had  pointed  out  the  folly  of  resistance  and  the  ruinous 
effects  to  the  new  Republic  if  the  insurrection  continued, 
and  had  done  all  in  their  power  to  restore  quietness  and 
submission.    ''All  males  over  eighteen  "  were  individually 

[  62  ] 


FRONTIER  TIMES 

to  sign  a  test  of  submission  on  or  before  September 
eleventh,  but,  owing  to  tlie  distances  and  the  slowness  of 
communication,  this  was  not  promptly  accomplished  and, 
consequently,  the  report  of  the  commissioners  was  not 
favorable.  President  Washington  actually  set  out  for 
Pittsburgh  on  the  first  of  October,  but  before  he  reached 
Bedford,  a  great  reaction  had  taken  place,  the  test  of  sub- 
mission had  been  signed  and  the  Whiskey  Insurrection 
ended.  The  President  came  no  farther  west  than  Bedford, 
but  the  army  was  permitted  to  arrive  in  Pittsburgh. 

Except  twenty-five  hundred  men,  who  remained  in  Pitts- 
burgh under  command  of  General  Morgan  through  the 
winter,  the  army  immediately  returned  east.  The  judicial 
investigation  was  conducted  by  Judge  Richard  Peters,  and, 
though  many  innocent  persons  were  seriously  incon- 
venienced, because  the  trials  were  held  in  Philadelphia, 
only  two  were  convicted  and  these  were  pardoned  by  the 
President.  The  quelling  of  this  rebellion  cost  the  govern- 
ment about  three-quarters  of  a  million  dollars. 

W^hile  this  district  was  laboring  with  a  local  insurrection, 
General  Wayne  was  drilling  an  army  to  subdue  the  Indians 
who  were  menacing  the  western  country.  Although  they 
had  failed  in  their  alliance  with  the  French  in  the  Seven 
Years  War,  and  failed  in  the  conspiracy  led  by  Pontiac  to 
drive  the  English  east  of  the  AUeghenies  in  1763,  they  con- 
tinued to  harass  the  frontier  and  to  defeat  nearly  every 
expedition  led  into  their  own  country  against  them. 

The  terms  of  the  treaty  made  at  Fort  Stanwix  with  the 
English  in  1768,  named  the  Ohio  river  as  the  western 
boundary  line  of  the  English  possessions.  Little  by  little 
the  settlers  continued  to  encroach  on  the  Indians'  territory; 
protest  after  protest  was  made  by  the  several  nations  but 
were  of  no  avail.  Offers  of  money  and  annuities  as  a  con- 
sideration for  allowing  the  settlers  to  remain  undisturbed 
in  their  new  homes  were  rejected.  Various  councils  re- 
sulted in  no  amicable  adjustment  and  the  settlers  showed 
a  determination  to  remain  in  any  event. 

This  prolonged  state  of  hostility  on  the  part  of  the  In- 
dians was  doubtless  enhanced  by  the  promises  of  aid  and 
the  moral  support  of  the  English,  who  were  feeling  bitter 

[  63  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

over  their  defeat  by  the  colonies  in  the  War  for  Independ- 
ence, therefore,  it  became  necessary  to  strike  a  decisive 
blow.  Accordingly,  General  Wayne's  army  was  moved  into 
the  disputed  territory  in  the  fall  of  1793,  and  the  winter 
was  spent  in  building  roads,  constructing  forts  and  collect- 
ing stores.  The  following  year,  after  a  series  of  minor 
conflicts,  the  decisive  battle  on  the  Maumee  was  fought  on 
the  twentieth  of  August.  This  so  paralyzed  the  Indians 
that  no  further  resistance  was  made  to  the  settlements 
within  a  long  radius  of  Pittsburgh. 

In  the  same  year  (1794),  Pittsburgh  was  erected  into  a 
borough.  It  had  been  the  point  of  contest  between  the 
English  and  French,  between  the  English  and  Indians,  be- 
tween Pennsylvania  and  Virginia;  had  suffered  the  throes 
of  insurrection  and  the  attendant  humiliations,  but,  by  this 
last  campaign  of  Wayne,  relieved  from  all  hindrance  to 
growth,  the  vicissitudes  of  its  beginning  were  accomplished. 


[  64] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTEB 


BEFORE   THE   CITY   CHARTER 


It  is  impossible  to  give  the  date  of  the  actual  beginning 
of  trade,  or  the  names  of  the  first  traders  or  settlers  at  the 
headwaters  of  the  Ohio,  but  during  the  French  occupation 
of  Fort  Duquesne,  from  the  spring  of  1754  until  the 
autumn  of  1758,  Indian  traders  dwelt  in  the  vicinity  under 
the  protection  of  the  fort.  Among  these  traders  there  were 
some  English,  not  only  at  this  time  but  at  least  five  years 
earlier,  1749,  at  which  time  protest  was  made  to  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Pennsylvania  by  Celeron,  the  commander  of  the 
French  forces  along  the  Allegheny,  that  the  traders  from 
the  English  colonies  were  trespassing  on  the  territory  of 
France,  and  there  is  extant  a  record  pointing  to  the  possi- 
bility of  traders  here  even  ten  years  previous  to  the  French 
occupation.  In  the  Isaac  Craig  annotated  list  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Pittsburgh  in  1760,  to  be  found  in  the  succeed- 
ing pages,  there  occurs  the  account  that  *'  Lazarus  Lowry 
and  his  brother  James  were  licensed  Indian  traders  as 
early  as  1744. ' '  In  this  account  the  essential  information  to 
establish  the  certainty  of  the  Lowrys  being  Indian  traders  at 
Pittsburgh  as  early  as  this  is  lacking,  though  it  is  possible 
that  they  were.  There  is  no  information  in  detail  regard- 
ing any  of  these  traders,  owing  to  the  meagre  records,  but 
it  is  worthy  of  note  that,  the  day  following  the  capture  of 
Fort  Duquesne,  General  Forbes,  in  acquainting  Lieutenant- 
Governor  Denny  with  his  success,  dated  his  letter  from 
*'  Fort  Duquesne,  or  now  Pitts-Borough."  It  is  evident 
from  this  fact  that  there  were  enough  settlers  to  warrant 
5  [  65  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Forbes  in  using  the  term  "  borougli."  In  fact,  the  name 
"  Pittsburgh  "  was  almost  as  frequently  used  in  the  cor- 
respondence of  the  period  dated  here  as  "  Fort  Pitt," 
which  was  doubtless  due  to  the  fact  that  there  was  in 
reality  no  fort  until  the  completion  of  Fort  Pitt,  the  French 
having  burned  Fort  Duquesne,  although  the  name  "  Fort 
Pitt  ' '  had  been  decided  upon  to  succeed  the  French  name, 
even  before  the  French  evacuation.  General  Stanwix 
seems  to  have  been  the  first  to  use  the  term  ''  Fort  Pitt  " 
in  his  correspondence,  the  earliest  date  being  December 
twenty-fourth,  1759.  He  also  used,  in  the  same  letters, 
*'  Pittsburgh,"  and  in  other  communications,  ''  Camp  at 
Pittsburgh."  Pittsburgh  was,  and  had,  for  some  time,  been 
regarded  the  most  important  trading  post  in  the  western 
country,  and  within  a  short  time  after  the  English  occupa- 
tion, the  number  of  inhabitants  ha.d  increased  to  such  an 
extent  that  a  fair  sized  village  flourished  outside  the  gar- 
rison. 

One  of  the  early  settlers  about  Fort  Pitt  was  James 
Kenney,  from  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  had 
charge  of  a  general  store  for  the  Pemberton  family  of 
Philadelphia.  Kenney 's  manuscript  diary  has  fortunately 
been  preserved,  and  from  it  is  learned  that,  in  1761,  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  fort  ordered  an  enumeration  to 
be  made  of  all  the  dwelling  houses  outside  the  fort.  Ac- 
cording to  Kenney,  all  of  these  houses,  except  one,  had  been 
built  within  two  years.  That ' '  many  of  ye  inhabitants  here 
have  hired  a  schoolmaster,  and  subscribed  about  sixty 
pounds  for  this  year  (1761)  for  him,  he  has  about  twenty 
scholars,  and  likewise  ye  soberer  sort  of  people  seem  to 
long  for  some  public  way  of  worship,  so  ye  schoolmaster, 
etc.,  reads  ye  Litany  and  Common  Prayer  on  ye  first  da3^s 
to  a  Congregation  of  different  principles  (he  being  a  Pres- 
biterant),  where  they  behave  very  grave  (as  I  hear),  on  ye 
occasion,  ye  children  are  also  brought  to  church  as  they 
call  it." 

A  record  of  the  population  of  Pittsburgh  at  this  period 
gives  the  number  of  men  as  three  hundred  and  twenty-four, 
the  woman  ninety-two,  and  children  forty-eight,  living  out- 
side the  garrison ;  and  the  number  of  houses,  with  owners ' 

[  66  ] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

names,  two  hundred  and  twenty.    Also,  Mr.  Isaac  Craig's 

annotated  list  of  1760  (from  the  Ecuyer  Papers),  of  the 

names  is  here  given  and  furnishes  interesting  bits  of  in- 
formation concerning  the  inhabitants. 

John  Langdale,  an  Indian  trader;  May  twentieth,  1760. 
He  and  Josiah  Davenport  and  Robert  Burchan  were 
nominated  and  recommended  to  the  Governor  as  suit- 
able persons  for  agents  at  Pittsburgh,  by  the  Commis- 
sioners under  the  Act  for  preventing  abuses  in  the 
Indian  trade.    In  1765  he  married  Alice  Coates. 

John  Barklit,  probably  John  Barkley,  an  Indian  trader  as 
late  as  1772. 

Hugh  McSwine, 

James  Braden, 

Philip  Boyle,  enlisted  May  fourth,  1756,  in  Captain  Joseph 
Shippen's  Company,  in  Colonel  William  Clapham's 
regiment.  After  the  capture  of  Fort  Duquesne  he  was 
employed  by  Colonel  Croghan  in  the  Indian  trade. 

John  Greenfield, 

Edward  Graham, 

Lewis  Bernard, 

Samuel  Hyden, 

William  Splane, 

Robert  Hook, 

John  Pierce,  subsequently  Pa^nnaster-General  of  Pennsyl- 
vania militia. 

William  McAllister,  was  living  in  Washington  county  dur- 
ing the  Whiskey  Insurrection  in  1794. 

James  St.  Clair, 

Erasmus  Bokias,  a  family  named  Bokius,  settled  very  early 
in  that  portion  of  Washington  county  on  the  Mononga- 
hela  river,  above  Redstone,  Old  Fort. 

John  Everlow, 

George  Carr, 

Edward  Cook,  was  a  man  of  great  ability  and  influence ;  he 
held  numerous  offices,  both  civil  and  military.  He  was 
one  of  the  three  persons  who  ordered  the  building  of 
the  fort  at  Hannastown  in  1776.  He  was  a  delegate 
from  Westmoreland  county  to  the  Convention  of  1776 ; 
County  Lieutenant  in  1782 ;  and  Judge  of  the  Court  of 

[  67  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Common  Pleas  for  Washington  and  Fayette  counties 
in  1786. 

AVilliam  Bryan, 

James  Harris,  of  Cmnberland  county;  April  eighteenth, 
1785,  was  appointed  Deputy  Surveyor  under  the  Act  of 
the  seventh  of  April,  1785 ;  and  he  was  the  surveyor  of 
Harris's  district,  No.  11.  April  sixth,  1787,  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  three  commissioners  for  laying 
out  a  road  between  the  Frankstown  Branch  and  the 
Conemaugh  river.  April  third,  1789,  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  three  commissioners  to  run  the  boundary 
line  of  Huntingdon  county. 

John  M'Kee, 

William  Work  was  a  Paxton  man,  and  one  of  the  signers  of 
a  circular  addressed  "  To  all  His  Majesty's  subjects 
in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  and  elsewhere,"  dated 
at ' '  Paxton,  October  thirty-first,  1755,  from  John  Har- 
ris's  at  twelve  o'clock  at  night."  The  address  will  be 
found  in  the  Pennsylvania  Colonial  Records,  Vol.  VI., 
p.  669.  March  fifteenth,  1758,  he  was  appointed  an 
ensign  in  Captain  Patrick  Davis'  Company,  and  sta- 
tioned east  of  the  Susquehannah.  May  fourth,  1759, 
he  was  commissioned  a  Lieutenant  in  Colonel  William 
Clapham  's  regiment. 

William  Downey, 

James  Milligan  was  commissioned  April  sixteenth,  1779,  a 
Lieutenant  in  the  Seventh  Pennsylvania  regiment,  and 
by  the  arrangement  of  January  twentieth,  1780,  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Fourth  Pennsylvania  regiment,  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant  Colonel  William  Butler.  I  think 
he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Convention  of 
January,  1775. 

John  Linsey,  a  private  in  Colonel  William  Butler's  com- 
pany of  St.  Clair's  Battalion,  in  1776. 

Alexander  Ewing,  an  Indian  trader  as  late  as  1772. 

Andrew  Briarly, 

Isaac  Hall, 

Lazarus  Lowry  and  his  brother,  James,  were  licensed  In- 
dian traders  as  early  as  July,  1744.  They  had  great 
influence  with  the  Indians,  and  the  Governor  of  Canada 

[  68  ] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

authorized  the  commandant  at  Detroit  to  offer  a  Very 
high  price  for  their  scalps  in  order  to  get  rid  of  them. 

Uriah  Hill, 

Edward  Ward.    Too  well  known  to  require  notice. 

William  Trent.    Too  well  known  to  require  notice. 

John  Finly,  Indian  trader  licensed  in  1774,  afterwards  a 
Captain  in  Colonel  Richard  Butler's  regiment,  and 
assistant-quartermaster  in  Wayne's  Army. 

Hugh  Crawford,  an  Indian  trader,  July  thirty-first,  1750, 
*  *  Governor  Hamilton  laid  before  the  Council  at  Phila- 
delphia a  message  from  the  chiefs  of  the  four  nations 
of  the  Twigh twees,  which  was  spoken  to  Mr.  Hugh 
Crawford,  Indian  trader,  in  one  of  the  Twightwees 
towns  on  the  Owaback,  where  he  was  trading  last  win- 
ter, and  which  he  put  down  in  writing, ' '  The  message 
can  be  found  in  Pennsylvania  Colonial  Records.  In 
1756  he  was  Lieutenant  in  Captain  James  Patterson's 
Company  of  Colonel  Weier's  Battalion. 

Joseph  Spear,  Indian  trader  as  late  as  1775;  he  then  re- 
sided in  Pittsburgh,  near  Judge  Ormsby's  house. 
Spear  was  also  one  of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the 
Peace  of  Westmoreland  county  in  1774  and  1775.  He 
appeared  prominently  in  the  controversy  between  Dr. 
John  Connolly  and  the  Pennsylvania  authorities  in  re- 
gard to  the  boundary  line  between  Pennsylvania  and 
Virginia. 

John  McClure  was  coroner  of  Cumberland  county,  1754- 
1758.  An  uncle  of  Mayor  Ebenezer  Denny,  mentioned 
in  his  journal,  p.  321,  as  residing  "  nine  miles  above 
Fort  Pitt  on  the  Monongahela,"  an  ancestor  of  all  the 
McClures  in  the  neighborhood. 

Thomas  Welch, 

.John  Cahoon, 

Patrick  Cunningham, 

Samuel  Heyden,  a  captain  in  the  King's  Rangers  in  the 
Revolution.  In  1777,  taken  prisoner,  violated  his 
parole,  and  was  sent  to  the  Council  of  Pennsylvania. 

James  Reed  is  doubtless  the  Read  of  Reading;  he  after- 
wards held  many  oflQces  both  civU  and  militar}^ 

Jolui  Daily  resided  in  Rostaver  township,  Westmoreland 

[  69  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

county.  November  twenty-fifth,  1794,  he  was  accepted 
by  Judge  Addison  as  bail  for  the  appearance  of  Moses 
D.  Devore,  who  was  charged  with  being  concerned  in 
the  Wliiskey  Insurrection. 

Charles  Boyle,  brother  of  Philip  Boyle. 

William  Jacobs, 

Robert  Paris,  this  is  perhaps  a  mistake,  and  should  be 
Richard  Paris.  Colonel  John  Armstrong  frequently 
mentions  Paris  as  a  trader.  In  1757,  Paris  brought  a 
number  of  Cherokee  and  Catawba  Indians  to  aid  Penn- 
sylvania. In  a  letter  dated  Carlisle,  May  fifth,  1757, 
Colonel  Armstrong  writes  to  the  Governor:  "  Be- 
sides the  inclination  which  the  Cherokees  have  ex- 
pressed to  be  acquainted  and  occasionally  join  with  us, 
I  am  well  acquainted  with  Paris,  the  trader,  who  is  at 
the  head  of  these  people,  and  can,  I  am  persuaded,  get 
him  to  visit  us  and  assist  with  more  or  less  of  his 
people,  except  when  they  may  be  put  on  some  expedi- 
tion, or  particular  service  from  Virginia  but  have  not 
taken  the  liberty  even  of  writing  that  gentleman  on  the 
subject,  until  I  have  Your  Honor's  authority  for  do- 
ing so." 

William  Fowler, 

John  Judy, 

Thomas  Small, 

Cornelius  Atkinson  enlisted  April  twentieth,  1756,  in  Cap- 
tain Joseph  Shippen's  company,  and  June  fifth  was 
sent  with  Lazarus  and  James  Lowry  and  others  on  a 
scout,  for  an  account  of  which  see  Colonial  Records, 
Vol.  VII.,  p.  155. 

Robert  Reed, 

Neil  McCollum, 

John  Work,  subsequently  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Cumber- 
land county.  John  Work  signed  a  petition  for  the  in- 
habitants of  Westmoreland  county,  dated  Pittsburgh, 
June  fourteenth,  1771.  See  Pennsylvania  Archives, 
Vol.  IV.,  p.  518. 

George  Tomb,  probably  George  Tump,  a  militiaman  and 
spy  during  the  Revolution. 

George  Sly, 

[  70  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

Patrick  McCarty, 

Cliristoplier  Miller  resided  in  or  near  Pittsburgli;  he  also 
signed  the  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Westmoreland 
county  to  Governor  Penn,  dated  June  fourteenth,  1781. 

William  Heath,  this  was  probably  William  Heth,  after- 
wards Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Third  Virginia  Regi- 
ment, in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  name  was  quite 
commonly  written  Heath. 

William  Winsor, 

John  Graham  was  in  the  Indian  trade  as  late  as  1772. 

John  Robinson, 

John  Duncastle, 

Peter  Smith, 

Windle  Creamer, 

John  Snyder, 

Peter  Mumaw, 

Matthias  Doberick, 

James  Sampson, 

Charles  Hays, 

Abram  Lingenfilder, 

John  Coleman.  Can  this  be  the  man  whose  case  before  the 
Presbytery,  April  fifteenth,  1788,  is  noticed  in  Smith's 
"  Old  Redstone,"  p.  355?  There  was  a  family  of  this 
name  in  Lancaster  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  rifles 
and  pack-saddles,  and  in  the  Indian  trade.  Robert  and 
William  are  the  best  known  of  the  family.  I  am  under 
the  impression  that  General  Hand  became  associated 
with  them  after  the  Revolution,  in  the  manufacture  of 
rifles. 

Jacob  Sinnott, 

Sinnott, 

(imperfect), 

dor  (imperfect), 

alesby  (imperfect), 

Conrad  Crone, 

Nicholas  Philip, 

Harnider, 

France  Ferdinanders, 

Henry  Wembock, 

Adam  Overwinter, 

[  71  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Paul  Sharp, 

Tineas  Smith, 

Philip  Byarly, 

Anthony  Baker, 

Christopher  Rorabunck, 

Thomas  Bretton, 

Joseph  George, 

Ephriam  Blane  was  Commissary-General  of  the  Middle 
Department  in  the  Revolution  and  great  grandfather 
of  Honorable  James  G.  Blaine,  United  States  Senator. 
Total,  90. 

Women's  Names. 

Susannah  McSwine,  Margaret  Pomry, 

Mary  Wallen,  Chris 'm  McCollom, 

Mary  Atkinson,  Agnus  Tomb, 

Martha  Reed,  Marget  Sly, 

Elizabeth  Randal,  Lydia  McCarty, 

Phebe  Byarly,  Lenora  Rogers, 

Judah  Crawford,  Elenor  Millar, 

Mary  Reed,  Bridget  Winsor, 

Anna  Thomas,  Marget  Crone, 

Sarah  Daily,  Susannah  Sinnott, 

Henrietta  Price,  Mary  Hays, 

Elizabeth  Boyle,  Marget  Sampson, 

Elizabeth  Jacobs,  Cate  Creamer, 

Mary  Judy,  Chris.  Smith. 

Mary  Reed,  Total,  29. 


Male  Children. 

George  McSwine,  Godfrey  Christian, 

Jacob  Byarly,  Henry  Millar, 

Jno.  Reed,  Chris.  Phillips, 

Robt.  Atkinson,  John  Sinnott, 

George  Reed,  Philip  Sinnott, 

Thomas  McCollom,  Patrick  Feagan, 

Jno.  Work,  George  Creamer. 

Total,  14. 

[  72  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

Female  Children. 

Mary  McSwine,  Elizabeth  Judy, 

Elizabeth  Otter,  Elizabeth  Pomry, 

Marget  Coghran,  Elizabeth  Work, 

Nelly  Thomas,  Elizabeth  Sly, 

Susan  Daily,  Susanna  Sly, 

Rebekah  Boyle,  Rachel  Sly, 

Marget  Boyle,  Nancy  Ba  (imperfect), 

Marget  Jacobs,  Mary  Sinn  (imperfect), 

Mary  Judy,  Marget  Cro  (imperfect). 

Total,  18. 

Houses   , 146 

Number  of  hutts 36 

Number  of  unfinished  houses 19 

Total 201 


From  Captain  Ecuyer's  Journal,  the  Colonial  Records, 
the  writings  of  Judge  Brackenridge,  and  other  sources,  it  is 
possible  to  form  a  fairly  accurate  idea  of  the  pioneer  days 
of  Pittsburgh.  The  town  was  divided  into  a  Lower  and 
Upper  town;  the  *'  King's  Gardens  "  stretching  along  the 
Allegheny,  with  a  background  of  wheatfields.  The  resi- 
dence of  the  commandant,  a  substantial  brick  building 
within  the  Fort,  being  the  most  pretentious  house.  As  a 
diversion,  a  club  met  at  Port  Pitt  every  Monday  during  the 
winter  months,  and  a  ball  was  given  by  the  soldiers  every 
Saturday  evening. 

The  letters  of  Ecuyer  state  that,  on  June  second,  1763, 
the  garrison  of  Fort  Pitt  consisted  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men.  But,  owing  to  the  conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  that  same 
year,  the  refugees  increased  the  number  in  Fort  Pitt  to 
five  hundred  and  forty  men,  women  and  children,  the  town 
having  been  demolished  by  the  garrison  in  order  to  leave  no 
shelter  for  the  Indians,  It  is  estimated  that,  because  of  this 
war,  twenty-four  Indian  traders  divided  among  themselves 
a  loss  of  about  ninety  thousand  pounds,  New  York  currency. 
The  reinforcements  under  Colonel  Henry  Bouquet,  and  his 

[  73  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

subsequent  victory  over  the  Indians  at  Muskingum,  brought 
relief  to  Fort  Pitt.  But  the  fear  of  Indian  attack,  as  has 
been  said,  continued  to  exercise  a  detrimental  effect  upon 
the  growth  of  the  town  until  the  victory  of  Wayne,  in  1794. 
However,  in  1764,  confidence  was  so  far  restored  that  Col- 
onel John  Campbell  made  a  survey,  laying  out  a  plan  of  lots 
and  streets,  afterwards  termed  the  "  Old  Military  Plan," 
which  comprised  that  part  of  the  city  now  lying  within  the 
boundaries  of  Water  and  Second  streets.  Market  and  Ferry 
streets.  It  is  not  known  for  whom  Campbell  acted,  but  his 
survey  was  later  accepted  by  the  Penns. 

The  Indian  trade  continued  to  increase,  and  it  was  proba- 
bly at  this  time  that  the  row  of  substantial  brick  houses  on 
the  bank  of  the  Allegheny  was  built.  Many  prominent 
Eastern  merchants  had  warehouses  here,  among  whom  were 
the  Pembertons,  and  the  firm  of  Boynton,  Wharton  &  Mor- 
gan, of  Philadelphia. 

Accommodations  for  travelers  were  of  a  very  primitive 
nature.  In  1766,  Matthew  Clarkson,  a  merchant,  and  at  one 
time  Mayor  of  Philadelphia,  made  a  journey  from  that 
place  to  Pittsburgh.  He  left  Philadelphia  on  horseback, 
August  sixth,  accompanied  by  a  servant.  Exclusive  of 
stops,  ten  days'  traveling  were  required  to  reach  Pitts- 
burgh. His  journal  does  not  convey  much  information  re- 
garding the  town;  but  sufficient  to  show  that  accommoda- 
tions were  meagre.  Upon  his  arrival,  he  said:  "  I  was 
stowed  away  in  a  small  crib,  on  blankets,  in  company  with 
flees  and  bugs."  He  went  to  the  "  ship  yards,"  where  he 
found  four  boats  finished  and  in  the  water,  and  three  more 
on  the  stocks,  and  business  going  on  briskly.  The  fort  was 
then  under  the  command  of  Major  Murphy,  who  gave  Mr. 
Clarkson  lodging  in  the  barracks,  but  owing  to  the  poor  food 
supplied  he  usually  made  his  meals  of  bread  and  milk  ^'  at 
the  store."  Mr.  Clarkson  spoke  of  Doctor  Murdock,  and 
of  Reverend  Mr.  McLagan,  Chaplain,  who  preached  alter- 
nately in  Scotch  and  English.  And  he  also  mentioned  that 
the  mail  from  Pittsburgh  was  sent  monthly  by  soldiers  to 
Shippensburg,  which  was  the  nearest  post-office. 

When  George  Washington  visited  Pittsburgh  in  1770,  the 
town  was  much  smaller  than  it  was  eight  or  nine  years 

[  74  ] 


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BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

previous.  This  was  due  to  the  constant  fear  of  Indian 
attack  subsequent  to  the  conspiracy  of  Pontiac.  Wash- 
ington was  a  large  land  holder  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Great 
Kanawha,  and  a  journey  to  his  possessions  was  the  reason 
for  his  visit  to  Pittsburgh. 

In  his  journal  he  wrote:  "  Dr.  Craik  and  myself,  with 
Captain  Crawford  and  others,  arrived  at  Port  Pitt,  distant 
from  the  Crossing  forty-three  and  a  half  measured  miles. 
We  lodged  in  what  is  called  the  town,  distant  about  three 
hundred  yards  from  the  Fort,  at  one  Mr.  Semple's,  who 
keeps  a  very  good  house  of  public  entertainment."  (Sem- 
ple's Tavern  stood  on  the  corner  of  Water  and  Ferry 
streets.)  *'  These  houses,  which  are  built  of  logs,  and 
ranged  into  streets,  are  on  the  Monongahela  and  I  suppose 
may  be  about  twenty  in  number,  and  inhabited  by  Indian 
traders,  etc.  The  Fort  is  built  on  the  point  between  the 
rivers  Allegheny  and  Mongahela,  but  not  so  near  the  pitch 
of  it  as  Fort  Duquesne  stood  *  *  *  etc."  The  next 
day  he  made  the  following  entry :  ' '  Dined  in  the  Fort  with 
Colonel  Croghan  and  the  officers  of  the  garrison;  supped 
there  also,  meeting  with  great  civility  from  the  gentlemen, 
and  engaged  to  dine  with  Colonel  Croghan  the  next  day  at 
his  seat  about  four  miles  up  the  Allegheny." 

The  first  attempt  at  civil  government  for  Pittsburgh  and 
Western  Pennsylvania  was  made  in  1771,  when  the  Penns 
appointed  Arthur  St.  Clair,  ^neas  Mackay,  Devereux 
Smith,  and  Andrew  McFarlane  to  act  as  magistrates  in 
Westmoreland  county,  which  then  included  almost  all  of 
Western  Pennsylvania.  Previous  to  this  the  settlement 
had  practically  been  under  the  rule  of  the  Commandant  of 
Fort  Pitt. 

While  the  Indians  on  the  frontier  appeared  to  be  peace- 
ably inclined,  the  departure  of  the  garrison,  in  the  latter 
part  of  1772,  caused  great  consternation  among  the  inhab- 
itants who  feared  that  without  protection  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  the  town  would  be  seriously  retarded.  A  peti- 
tion was  sent  to  Governor  Penn  urging  the  necessity  for 
the  continuance  of  the  military  force  at  Fort  Pitt.  The 
Governor  applied  to  General  Gage,  the  Commander-in-Chief 
of  the  British  Forces  in  America,  for  the  restoration  of  the 

[  75  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

garrison,  but  the  request  was  refused  on  the  ground  that 
'^  no  government  can  undertake  to  erect  forts  for  the  ad- 
vantage of  forty  or  fifty  people. ' ' 

Again  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  and  vicinity  became 
apprehensive  of  the  Indians  and  sent  a  petition  to  Governor 
Penn  for  protection.  Among  the  signers  of  this  petition 
are  to  be  found  the  names  of  many  men  who  afterward  rose 
to  positions  of  prominence  in  the  various  walks  of  life  in 
Pittsburgh,  and  whose  influence  is  still  felt  by  the  citizens  of 
to-day.  The  list  is  given  complete,  as  it  is,  with  the  signers 
of  the  protest  of  1781,  against  the  retention  of  Colonel 
Broadhead  as  Commandant  at  Fort  Pitt,  the  only  record 
extant  of  even  a  portion  of  the  inhabitants  from  the  enu- 
meration of  1760,  down  to  the  early  part  of  the  next  cen- 
tury: ''  Ensign  McKay,  Devereux  Smith,  William  Butler, 
James  O'Hara,  Samuel  McKenzie,  John  Ormsby,  John  Mc- 
Allister, Andrew  Robinson,  Edward  Thompson,  William 
Evans,  William  McClellan,  William  Lea,  Frederick  Henry, 
John  Henry,  Christopher  Miller,  John  Stewart,  Richard 
Carson,  James  Camahan,  John  Chilton,  John  Camahan, 
Peter  Ecklej^,  Edward  Murray,  William  McConnell,  James 
Kyle,  Benjamin  Coe,  Joseph  Kyle,  John  Worf,  Robert  Pat- 
terson, Reuben  Powell,  Peter  Coe,  William  Elliott,  John 
Emerson,  Adam  McClintock,  James  Neely,  Leaven  Cooper, 
Nathaniel  Field,  Aldrich  Allen,  David  Watson,  John  Cleg- 
horn,  Stephen  Lowry,  Silas  Miller,  John  Camahan,  William 
Stewart,  Clarence  Findley,  John  Findley,  Andrew  Findley, 
Robert  Thompson,  Samuel  McGomery,  Thomas  Carroll, 
James  Patterson,  Arthur  St.  Clair,  James  Pollock,  David 
Sample,  Michael  Huffnagle,  Samuel  Shannon,  Samuel 
Smith,  James  Dugan,  George  Hutcheson,  George  McDowell, 
Nathan  Young,  Michael  Coffman,  William  Piper,  George 
Glenn,  David  McCann,  Alexander  Jolmston,  John  Cave- 
naugh,  Robert  Nox,  James  McDowell,  Thomas  Bleack, 
David  Thompson,  Jacob  Meens,  John  Smith,  John  Mc- 
Naghar,  Hugh  Lorrimer,  Benjamin  Sitten,  Thomas  Sutton, 
H.  Slatten,  David  Loveger,  James  McCurdy,  Abel  Fisher, 
Robert  Porter,  John  Livingston,  Robert  Laughlin,  Charles 
Kille,  Dudley  Dougherty,  Hugh  Hamill,  Richard  Shannon, 
John  Wesnor,  John  Shannon,  Joseph  Gaskins,  Robert  Mc- 

[  76  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

Dowell,  John  Jordan,  John  Smith,  Thomas  Galbraith,  Sam- 
uel Evans,  Henry  Fitzgerald,  Edmund  Mullaly,  James 
Thompson,  Robert  Mickey,  David  Mickey,  Alexander  Mc- 
Dowell and  William  McKenzie. ' ' 

Another  effect  of  the  departure  of  the  garrison  was  to 
add  io  the  heated  controversy  between  Pennsylvania  and 
Virginia  regarding  the  boundary  line.  When  Dr.  John 
Connolly,  under  orders  of  Governor  Dunmore,  of  Virginia, 
took  possession  of  Fort  Pitt,  in  1774,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  came  under  his  despotic  rule,  and  there  was  no  relief 
until  the  fall  of  1775,  when  Connolly  was  succeeded  by 
Captain  John  Neville,  also  a  Virginian,  whose  government 
was  more  lenient;  but  the  custom  of  the  military  oppressing 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  continued  to  a  greater  or  less 
degree  through  his  regime  and  those  of  subsequent  com- 
mandants. During  the  efforts  of  Pennsylvania  to  forcibly 
prevent  the  depreciation  of  paper  currency,  in  1779,  by  fix- 
ing the  prices  of  all  commodities  of  exchange  and  for  con- 
sumption, as  well  as  rates  of  rent,  the  officers  of  the  line 
and  staff  in  the  Western  Department  at  Fort  Pitt,  under 
Colonel  Brodhead,  a  continental  commander,  attempted  to 
carry  tlie  plan  through,  but  the  move  was  met  with  in- 
dignant opposition  by  the  traders  and  inhabitants.  Several 
protests  were  made  to  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania 
against  Brodhead  and  his  associates.  The  whole  intent  of 
the  State's  plan  was  misconstrued  and  failed  here,  as  else- 
where. Brodhead  was  accused  of  ''  jobbery,  conspiracy, 
speculation,  despotism,  tyranny,  confiscation  of  property, 
etc."  The  charge  of  ''  jobbery  "  and  *'  conspiracy  "  re- 
lated to  Brodhead 's  questionable  dealings  with  the  Assistant 
Deputy  Quartermaster  of  the  State,  Mr.  David  Duncan, 
concerning  the  supply  and  fixing  of  prices  of  articles  for 
consumption  at  the  post.  Brodhead 's  unpopularity  at 
Pittsburgh  continued.  He  practically  ruled  the  town  with 
military  power,  utterly  disregarding  the  opposition  of  the 
inhabitants.  Protest  was  again  made  to  the  President  and 
Supreme  Executive  Council  of  the  State  in  1781.  This,  and 
the  angry  controversy  in  which  he  became  involved  with 
some  of  ins  officers,  headed  by  Colonel  Gibson,  resulted  in 
his  recall  the  same  year.    General  William  Irvine  succeeded 

[  77  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

him  by  choice  of  Congress,  and  the  transition  of  the  town  to 
a  civil  center  was  somewhat  accelerated.  The  names  of  the 
feigners  of  the  protest,  or  memorial  mentioned  above,  are  as 
follows :  William  Christy,  John  Oiinsby,  Thomas  Nicholas, 
Robert  Campbell,  Robert  McKinley,  James  Robinson,  Peter 
Bowlider,  E.  M.  Ward,  Samuel  Ewalt,  John  Hamilton,  Wil- 
liam Amberson,  Thomas  Smallman,  John  Bradley,  William 
Barr,  James  McFelland,  Devereux  Smith,  John  Jerry, 
James  Fleming,  Andrew  Robertson,  John  Fowler,  George 
AVallace,  John  Handlyn,  E.  Moore,  William  Reddich,  A. 
Lowler,  David  Tait  and  John  Irwin. 

The  breaking  out  of  the  struggle  between  the  colonies  and 
England  retarded  immigration  and,  hence,  in  a  measure,  the 
growth  of  the  town;  it  was  not  until  after  the  Revolu- 
tion that  Pittsburgh  again  resumed  the  substantial  progress 
which  had  been  interrupted  by  the  conspiracy  of  Pontiac 
in  1763.  The  poverty  stricken  Continental  Government 
availed  itself  of  the  large  and  vacant  Northwest  Territory 
as  a  means  of  payment  to  its  soldiers,  and,  with  this  added 
incentive,  immigration  was  resumed. 

This  immigration  and  settlement  of  new  territory  was  a 
most  important  factor  in  the  growth  of  Pittsburgh,  as  the 
Ohio  river  was  the  natural  highway  to  the  west.  In  1787 
the  population  of  the  Northwest  Territory  was  estimated  at 
three  or  four  thousand.  Much  of  the  emigration  to  Ken- 
tucky, beginning  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  likewise 
passed  through  Pittsburgh.  In  the  Pittsburgh  Gazette  of 
January  seventeenth,  1789,  it  is  estimated  that  from  Octo- 
ber, 1786,  to  December,  1788,  sixteen  thousand,  two  hundred 
and  three  persons  went  westward  on  the  Ohio  river.  But 
this  progress  of  Pittsburgh  was  only  comparative,  and 
though  it  was  substantial,  it  was  not  of  an  increasing  vigor ; 
it  was  only  the  slow  beginning  of  things.  The  really 
marked  advance  began  in  the  summer  of  1794,  after  Gen- 
eral Wayne's  decisive  victory  over  the  Indians,  which  re- 
lieved Pittsburgh  and  its  vicinity  from  all  further  fear  of 
them. 

The  treaty  made  by  Thomas  and  Richard  Penn  with  the 
Six  Nations  in  1768,  secured  to  them,  for  $10,000.00,  all  the 
country  in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  south  of  the  west 

[  78  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

branch  of  the  Susquehanna  and  of  a  straight  lino  from  the 
northwest  corner  of  Cambria  county  to  Kittanning,  and  all 
east  of  the  Allegheny  below  Kittanning,  and  all  south  of 
the  Ohio.  While  they  prepared  to  sell  their  lands,  they 
decided  to  reserve  for  their  private  estate  certain  sections 
which  they  regarded  as  especially  valuable,  owing  to  favor- 
able location  or  for  other  reasons.  These  sections  were 
called  manors,  and  among  them  was  the  Manor  of  Pitts- 
burgh, comprising  five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty- 
six  acres  about  the  headwaters  of  the  Ohio.  The  survey  of 
this  manor  was  made  in  the  early  part  of  1769, 

In  the  latter  part  of  1783,  John  Penn  and  John  Penn,  Jr., 
the  then  Proprietaries,  decided  to  sell  the  lands  included  in 
the  Manor  of  Pittsburgh  which,  according  to  this  survey, 
were  bounded  as  follows : 

"  The  survey  began  at  a  Spanish  oak  on  the  south  bank 
of  the  Monongahela,  thence  south  eight  hundred  perches  to 
a  hickory,  thence  west  one  hundred  fifty  perches  to  a  white 
oak,  thence  north  thirty-five  degrees  west  one  hundred 
forty-four  perches  to  a  white  oak,  thence  west  five  hundred 
eighteen  perches  to  a  white  oak,  thence  north  seven  hun- 
dred fifty-eight  perches  to  a  post,  thence  east  sixty  perches 
to  a  post,  north  fourteen  degrees  east  two  hundred  eight 
perches  to  a  white  walnut  on  the  bank  of  the  Ohio,  thence 
up  the  river  two  hundred  two  perches  to  a  white  walnut, 
thence  crossing  the  river  and  up  the  south  side  of  the 
Allegheny  seven  hundred  sixty-two  perches  to  a  Spanish 
oak  at  the  corner  of  Croghan's  claim,  thence  south  sixty 
degrees  east  two  hundred  forty-nine  perches  to  a  sugar 
tree,  south  eighty-five  degrees  east  one  hundred  ninety-two 
perches  to  a  sugar  tree,  thence  by  vacant  land  south 
eighteen  degrees  east  two  hundred  thirty-six  perches  to  a 
white  oak,  thence  south  forty  degrees  west  one  hundred 
fifty  to  a  white  oak,  thence  west  by  claim  of  Samuel  Semple 
one  hundred  ninety-two  perches  to  a  hickory,  thence  south 
sixty-five  degrees  west  Seventy-four  perches  to  a  red  oak  on 
the  bank  of  the  Monongahela,  thence  obliquely  across  the 
river  south  seventy-eight  degrees,  west  three  hundred  and 
eight  perches  to  the  Spanish  oak,  the  beginning. ' ' 

A  more  intelligible  explanation  for  the  present  genera- 

[  79  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

tion  would  be  to  say,  that  the  Spanish  oak,  from  which  the 
survey  began,  stood  on  the  south  side  of  the  Monongahela, 
in  the  middle  of  McKee  street.  The  hickory,  at  the  south- 
west corner,  eight  hundred  perches,  from  the  beginning, 
stood  not  far  from  what  was  known  as  the  Buck  Tavern  on 
the  old  Brownsville  road.  The  white  walnut  on  the  Ohio 
stood  a  short  distance  above  Saw  Mill  Run  where  the  Wash- 
ington and  Steubenville  roads  unite.  The  white  walnut, 
from  which  the  line  starts  across  the  river,  stood  near  the 
old  glass  house  erected  by  James  O'Hara  and  Isaac  Craig. 
The  Spanish  oak  on  the  Allegheny  stood  near  the  line  be- 
tween Croghansville  and  Springfield  farm.  From  thence 
the  line  passes  the  western  side  of  Springfield  farm,  crosses 
the  Fourth  street  road,  five  or  six  yards  east  of  what  was 
known  as  the  ' '  Colony, ' '  turns  just  beyond  and  strikes  the 
Monongahela  three  or  four  hundred  feet  above  the  mouth 
of  Two  Mile  Run.  From  thence  the  line  ran  obliquely  across 
as  stated  above.     (Adapted  from  Craig's  "  Olden  Time."). 

It  is  due  to  this  survey  of  the  Manor  of  Pittsburgh  that 
almost  all  titles  to  real  estate  within  the  city  of  Pittsburgh 
are  derived  originally  from  the  Penns,  while  all  the  titles 
in  the  city  of  Allegheny  originate  from  the  Commonwealth. 
In  1779  the  Penn  lands,  except  the  manors,  were  confiscated 
by  the  Commonwealth  (the  Penns  having  sided  with  Eng- 
land during  the  War  of  the  Revolution),  which  allowed 
them,  however,  one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds  sterling, 
money  of  Great  Britain,  for  their  divested  holdings. 

The  first  sale  of  these  lands  was  made  in  January,  1784, 
to  Isaac  Craig  and  Stephen  Bayard,  and  included  the 
ground,  about  three  acres,  between  Fort  Pitt  and  the  Alle- 
gheny river.  Under  the  supervision  of  Tench  Francis, 
agent  for  the  Penns,  a  survey  was  made  by  Messrs.  George 
Woods,  of  Bedford,  an  experienced  surveyor,  and  Thomas 
Vickroy,  his  assistant,  who  left  the  following  deposition  re- 
garding it: 

'*  I  assisted  George  A¥cods,  the  elder,  to  lay  out  the  town 
of  Pittsburgh.  He  requested  me  to  go  with  him  as  a  sur- 
veyor and  employed  me  in  that  capacity  to  lay  out  the  town 
of  Pittsburgh  and  to  divide  the  Proprietary  Manor  into  out- 
lots  and  farms.    We  arrived  at  Pittsburgh  in  the  month  of 

[  80  ] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHAETER 

May,  1784,  and  the  first  thing  we  did  was  to  circumscribe 
the  ground  where  he  intended  to  lay  a  town  out.  We  began 
up  about  where  Grant  street  now  is  on  the  bank  of  the 
Monongahela,  and  proceeded  down  the  Monongahela  ac- 
cording to  the  meanderings  of  the  river  to  its  junction  with 
the  Allegheny  river,  then  up  the  Allegheny  on  the  bank, 
keeping  on  the  bank  to  a  certain  distance  up  to  about  Wash- 
ington street,  from  thence  to  Grant's  Hill,  thence  along 
Grant's  Hill  to  the  place  of  beginning.  I  made  a  draught 
of  it  in  Mr.  Woods '  presence,  throwing  it  into  a  large  scale 
to  see  how  it  would  answer  to  lay  it  out  in  lots  and  streets. 
After  that  there  was  a  good  deal  of  conversation.  And  the 
ground  was  viewed  by  Mr.  Woods  and  the  persons  who  lived 
at  that  place  to  fix  on  the  best  plan  to  lay  out  the  town  with 
the  greatest  convenience.  There  had  been  lots  laid  out  be- 
fore, as  I  understand,  called  Military  lots  said  to  be  laid  out 
by  Mr.  Campbell.  There  are  four  blocks  on  the  plan  con- 
tained between  Market  street  and  Ferry  street.  Water 
street  and  Second  street,  Mr.  Woods  expressed  a  desire  to 
remodel  those  small  streets  and  lots  so  as  to  make  them 
larger,  especially  Market  street.  A  number  of  inhabitants 
had  small  houses  on  those  lots  as  they  were  laid  out,  these 
persons  remonstrated  and  objected  and  gathered  in  a  body 
together  and  would  not  have  it  done,  saying  it  would  de- 
stroy their  property.  Eventually  Mr.  Woods  acquiesced 
in  their  wishes  and  laid  out  four  lots  as  they  had  been  be- 
fore. A  rough  draft  of  the  plan  was  retained  by  me,  and 
is  hereto  annexed  marked  in  my  handwriting  '  Original 
Draught  kept  by  Thomas  Vickroy. '  I  made  about  six  copies 
of  it  and  gave  them  to  Mr.  Woods.  The  original  now 
identified  remained  in  my  possession  until  about  the  year 
1827,  when  I  handed  it  to  Mr.  Craig,  but  it  is  now  again  be- 
fore me,  and  I  now  further  identify  it  by  having  this  day 
marked  on  it  in  my  handwriting:  '  This  draft  presented  to 
the  City  of  Pittsburgh,  December  16th,  1841,  Thomas  Vick- 
roy. '  Mr.  Woods  having  procured  a  pole  and  a  great  num- 
ber of  locust  pins  for  the  purpose  of  measuring  and  staking 
off  the  lots  and  streets,  we  then  went  to  Samuel  E wait's 
house,  which  stood  at  what  is  now  the  corner  of  Market  and 
Water  streets.  Then  we  took  the  range  of  Water  street 
6  [  81  1 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

from  some  houses  that  then  stood  on  the  bank  of  the 
Monongahela  river,  viz:  Ormsby's,  Galbraith's  and  others, 
and  then  measured  below  Ewalt's  some  distance,  perhaps  as 
far  as  the  Military  lots  and  laid  them  out  and  staked  them. 
We  then  returned  and  began  at  Ewalt's  house  and  laid  out 
Market  street  and  the  Diamond  and  continued  Market  street 
to  a  certain  point.  We  then  commenced  and  laid  off  Liberty 
street.  After  we  had  laid  out  Liberty  street,  we  again  com- 
menced at  Ewalt's  and  measured  up  the  river  on  Water 
street  to  Wood  street,  which  we  laid  out  sixty  feet  wide, 
running  it  from  Water  street  parallel  with  Market  street 
through  to  Liberty  street,  we  then  laid  out  the  blocks  be- 
tween Wood  and  Market  streets  through  from  Water  street 
to  Liberty  street.  We  then  measured  up  Water  street  to 
Smithfield  street,  which  we  also  laid  out  from  Water  street 
through  to  Liberty  street  sixty  feet,  making  it  parallel  with 
Wood  street,  and  then  proceeded  to  lay  out  the  blocks  be- 
tween Smithfield  and  Wood  streets  from  Water  through  to 
Liberty.  From  Smithfield  we  went  on  to  lay  out  Cherry 
alley,  making  it  twenty  feet  wide  and  running  it  from  Water 
street  to  Liberty  parallel  with  Smithfield  street,  we  then 
laid  out  the  block  of  lots  between  Smithfield  street  and 
Cherry  alley  through  from  Water  to  Liberty  street.  We 
then  proceeded  to  Grant  street,  which  we  laid  out  sixty  feet 
wide,  making  it  parallel  with  Cherry  alley,  and  then  laid  out 
the  block  of  lots  between  Cherry  alley  and  Grant  street. 
We  ran  Grant  street  through  from  Water  street  to  Liberty, 
making  it  end  on  Liberty  street. 

* '  It  was  the  last  street  we  laid  out  on  that  side  of  Liberty. 
We  made  Market  street  and  Water  street  the  bases  of  the 
blocks  of  survey  south  of  Liberty  street,  and  we  finished  all 
the  surveying  and  laying  out  lots  on  that  side  of  Liberty 
street  before  we  proceeded  to  the  other  side.     In  making 
the  sur^^ey  of  lots  south  of  Liberty  street,  we  staked  them 
all  off  with  good  locust  pins.    In  making  the  survey  of  lots  . 
between  Liberty  and  the  Allegheny  river  we  commenced  I '. 
think  at  Marbury  street  and  worked  on  up  until  we  flushed  1 
at  Washington  street  which  was  the  last  street  we  made. , 
We  made  Washington  street  to  run  toward  the  Allegheny 
river  to  Liberty  street  when  it  ended.     The  reason  we 

[  82  ] 


BEFOEE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

stopped  at  Liberty  street  was  that  if  we  had  run  across  it, 
it  would  have  run  through  a  public  street.  Liberty  street 
had  been  run  and  when  we  ran  Grant  street  we  stopped  at 
Liberty  street  as  running  to  a  public  street,  and  when  we 
ran  Washington  street  we  stopped  at  Liberty  street  for  the 
same  reason.  Washington  street  was  sixty  feet  wide. 
Those  streets,  viz:  Grant  and  Washington,  did  not  meet 
because  there  was  a  public  street  between  them,  I  cannot 
recollect  whether  there  was  an  off-set  or  not,  we  made  no 
off-set,  but  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  the  draft  hereto 
annexed  which  I  have  identified  is  correct.  I  made  it  im- 
mediately after  the  survey.  I  made  it  from  my  field  notes 
directly  after  my  return  from  Pittsburgh.  There  was  no 
connection  between  Washington  street  and  Grant  street,  a 
public  street  intervened.  There  was  no  surplus  ground 
over  and  above  the  lots  between  Market  street  and  Grant 
street  to  the  best  of  my  recollection.  We  drew  a  line  along 
the  outside  of  the  last  row  of  lots  sixty  feet  wide  from  Grant 
street,  the  streets  and  lots  were  all  measured  with  a  pole 
and  not  with  a  chain.  The  first  survey  made  I  called  a 
circumscribing  survey,  the  object  of  it  was  to  get  a  general 
view  of  the  ground  to  enable  us  to  lay  out  the  town,  none 
of  the  streets  were  fixed  by  it,  not  even  Washington  or 
Grant,  it  was  run  with  a  chain  and  we  threw  it  away  and 
made  no  further  use  of  it  except  to  plot  by  it  the  ground 
north  of  Liberty  and  below  Marbury  street,  that  ground 
was  then  occupied  by  a  Military  post  and  we  could  not  sur- 
vey it.  Water  street  was  to  extend  in  width  from  the  base 
line  we  established  at  Ormsby's  house  to  low  water  mark 
in  the  river  and  this  width  was  to  prevail  through  its 
length  from  Grant  street  to  the  point.  In  laying  out  Water 
street  there  was  another  murmuring  of  the  inhabitants, 
complaining  that  the  street  was  too  narrow.  Mr.  Woods 
said  they  would  be  digging  cellars  and  then  they  would  fill 
up  the  gullies  and  make  a  fine  street.  There  was  a  narrow 
place  at  the  mouth  of  Ferry  street,  and  lower  down  also 
there  was  a  great  gut  at  the  mouth  of  Wood  street,  which 
made  an  ugly  crossing.  We  set  no  pins  at  the  south  side  of 
Water  street  for  it  was  to  go  to  low  water  mark. 

' '  We  ran  no  outside  lines  either  on  Washington  or  Grant 

[  83  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

streets.  We  staked  off  the  lots  and  marked  them,  then 
we  left  sixty  feet  for  those  streets  outside.  We  completed 
the  work  in  June,  1784. 

' '  In  laying  out  the  lots  we  might  have  missed  an  inch  or 
so.  We  did  not  leave  an  inch  knowingly.  And  further  de- 
l^onent  saith  not. 

Thomas  Vickroy. 

' '  Sworn  to,  subscribed  and  taken  this  16th  day  of  Decem- 
ber, A.  D.,  1841,  in  the  presence  of  Moses  Campton,  Esq., 
solicitor  for  the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  and  James  S.  Craft, 
Esq.,  who  appears  as  within  stated  between  the  hours  of 
8  o'clock  A.  M.  and  5  o'clock  P.  M.  of  said  day,  at  the 
house  of  Thomas  Vickroy,  St.  Clair  township,  Bedford 
county.     Before  me, 

"  John  Mower, 

Commissioner." 

As  soon  as  the  survey  was  made,  even  before  the  lots 
were  laid  out  on  paper,  the  proprietors  began  to  make  titles 
for  eager  purchasers.  Craig  and  Bayard,  with  character- 
istic enterprise,  now  formed  a  partnership  with  Turnbull, 
Marmie  and  Company,  of  Philadelphia,  and  in  addition  to 
their  mercantile  business,  set  up  a  distillery  here,  a  saw 
mill  up  the  Allegheny  river,  and  '"  opened  up  a  salt  works 
on  the  Big  Beaver,"  but  there  is  nothing  extant  to  substaai- 
tiate  that  this  latter  industry  was  ever  productive  to  any 
extent.  Major  Craig  also  made  an  effort  to  have  a  regular 
mail  service  established  between  Pittsburgh  and  the  East, 
but  was  unsuccessful,  as  the  subscription  for  a  post-rider 
was  insufficient.  However,  the  energy  and  sagacity  of 
these  two  pioneers,  and  others  who  cast  their  lot  in  this 
promising  settlement,  had  its  effect  on  the  outside  world, 
and  descriptions  of  the  place,  detailing  its  advantages  of 
location  and  resources,  fell  like  seed  upon  fertile  soil;  im- 
migration increased  and  the  town  prospered.  One  of  the 
earliest  impressions  of  travellers  of  note,  at  about  the  time 
of  the  survey  of  Woods  and  Vickroy,  is  that  from  the  jour- 
nal of  Arthur  Lee.  Mr.  Lee  was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  a 
brother  of  Francis  Lightfoot  Lee  and  of  Richard  Bland 

[  84  ] 


BEFORE   THE   CITY  CHARTER 

Lee,  both  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Lee, 
with  Benjamin  Franklin  and  Silas  Deane,  had  been  com- 
missioner to  France  and  had  lately  returned.  He  visited 
Pittsburgh  in  1784,  Altogether,  his  account  is  not  very  flat- 
tering. His  prejudice  doubtless  was  partly  temperamental. 
Franklin's  estimate  of  him,  in  a  letter  to  Joseph  Reed, 
President  of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, credited  him  with  an  indefatigable  industry  in 
''  sowing  suspicions  and  jealousies,  in  creating  misunder- 
standings and  quarrels  among  friends,  in  malice  and  sub- 
tility."  The  termination  of  the  Pennsylvania-Virginia 
boundary  controversy,  which  placed  Pittsburgh  in  Penn- 
sylvania territory,  also  unquestionably  added  to  his  some- 
what contemptuous  estimate  of  the  town.  These  facts 
should  be  taken  intO'  consideration  in  perusing  his  descrip- 
tion. 

Among  other  things,  he  states  that  ''  the  banks  of  the 
Monongahela  on  the  west,  or  opposite  to  Pittsburgh,  are 
steep,  close  to  the  water  and  about  twO'  hundred  yards  high. 
About  a  third  of  the  way  from  the  top  is  a  vein  of  coal 
above  one  of  the  rocks.  The  coal  is  burned  in  the  town 
and  considered  veiy  good.  The  property  of  this  and  of  the 
town  is  in  the  Penns.  They  have  lotted  out  the  face  of  the 
hill  at  thirty  pounds  a  lot,  to  dig  coal  as  far  in  as  the-  per- 
pendicular falling  from  the  summit  of  the  bank.  Fort  Pitt 
is  regularly  built,  cost  the  Crown  six  hundred  pounds  *  and 
is  commanded  by  cannon  from  the  opposite  bank  of  the 
Monongahela,  and  from  a  hill  above  the  town  called  Grant's 
Hill,  from  the  catastrophe  which  befell  General  Grant  at 
that  place.  Pittsburgh  is  inhabited  almost  entirely  by 
Scots  and  Irish,  who  live  in  paltry  log  houses,  and  are  as 
dirty  as  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  or  even  Scotland.  There 
is  a  great  deal  of  small  trade  carried  on,  the  goods  being 
brought  at  the  vast  expense  of  forty-five  shillings  per  cwt. 
from  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore.  They  take  in  the  shops, 
money,  wheat,  flour  and  skins.  There  are  in  the  town 
four  attorneys,  two  doctors  and  not  a  priest  of  any  per- 

*  Probably  an  error,  as  good  authority,  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume, 
fixes  the  cost  at  sixty  thousand  pounds,  which  is  more  reasonable,  considering 
the  eitensiveness  of  the  work  and  material  used. 

[  85  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

suasion,  nor  church,  nor  chapel;  so  that  they  are  likely  to 
be  damned  without  the  benefit  of  clergy.  *  *  *  The 
place,  /  believe,  will  never  be  very  considerable." 

About  the  same  time  that  Arthur  Lee  visited  Pittsburgh, 
Dr.  Johann  Schoepf,  Chancellor  of  the  Medical  College  of 
Bayreuth,  spent  several  days  here,  and  has  left  his  im- 
pressions. 

Schoepf  agrees  with  Lee  in  not  deeming  the  inhabitants 
very  energetic,  thinking  "  that  on  account  of  the  present 
prevailing  conditions,  they  are  still  very  poor.  They  are 
also  extremely  inactive  and  indolent,  so  much  so  that  they 
are  indignant  if  anyone  offers  them  an  opportunity  to 
work  and  earn  money,  for  which,  nevertheless,  they  are 
perfectly  ravenous.  There  was  a  continual  complaint  (we 
also  gave  utterance  to  it)  that  every  trifle  manufactured 
here,  however  insignificant,  was  far  more  expensive  than 
the  same  thing  would  be  in  Philadelphia.  The  people  here 
do  not  become  rich  through  industry  and  frugal  habits, 
they  prefer  to  replenish  their  houses  by  extorting  money 
from  strangers  and  travellers.  *  *  *  The  laboring  class 
has  confined  itself,  up  to  this  time,  to  agriculture  and  the 
curing  of  hides  and  furs.  At  this  time  a  number  of  con- 
siderable settlements  have  been  made  lower  down  on  the 
Ohio,  which  are  incessantly  and  perceptibly  increased  by 
daily  influxes  of  large  numbers  of  men.  The  Pittsbarghers 
derive  much  profit  from  the  passage  of  these  transients. 
On  account  of  its  advantageous  situation,  Pittsburgh  can- 
not fail  to  become,  nothwithstanding  its  present  insignifi- 
cance, an  important  post  for  inland  trade," 

The  same  writer,  in  describing  his  entrance  to  the  town, 
says:  ''  We  now  ascended  a  steep  mountain  and  traversed 
seven  miles  of  dense  woodland.  The  three  remaining 
miles  were  less  sparsely  inhabited.  We  crossed  various 
brooks,  named  respectively  from  their  distance  to  Fort 
Pitt,  as  the  Six  Mile,  Four  Mile,  Two  Mile  Run.  From  the 
last  named  the  road  followed  the  bank  of  the  Allegheny 
river.  It  was  already  twilight,  but  the  sky  was  clear  and 
the  landscape  broad  and  attractive,  to  which  fair  prospect 
the  view  of  a  beautiful  river,  the  freedom  from  the  unceas- 
ingly dreadful  forest,  and  the  contentment  of  being  at  the 

[  86  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

end  of  our  journey,  contributed  not  a  little.  In  Pittsburgh 
we  repaired  to  the  principal  guest  house,  a  little,  crooked 
wooden  hut,  pointed  out  to  us  on  the  Monongahela,  whose 
exterior  promised  very  little.  However,  the  sight  of  sev- 
eral well  clothed  gentlemen  and  stately  ladies  kept  us  from 
despairing.  The  honour  to  be  the  first  object  of  their 
curiosity  was  not  reserved  for  us,  but  for  our  vehicle,  for 
we  had  covered  the  entire  distance  in  a  tilted  cart  (French 
carriole),  which  up  to  this  date  had  been  considered  im- 
possible." Dr.  Schoepf  also  states  that  the  first  stone 
house  was  built  in  1784. 

From  Dr.  Schoepf 's  account  it  is  evident  that  the  favor- 
able location  of  the  town  impressed  him,  and  though  he  ac- 
credited the  inhabitants  with  extreme  inactivity,  indolence 
and  the  practice  of  extortion  in  the  sale  of  articles  manu- 
factured here,  as  well  as  a  general  greediness  for  money, 
the  fact  remains,  that  among  these  early  Pittsburghers  were 
men  of  sterling  qualities  and  energy,  whose  efforts,  from  the 
first,  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Pittsburgh  of  to-day.  It  is 
also  a  matter  of  record,  as  is  to  be  seen  in  Craig's  annotated 
list  of  1760,  and  the  petitions  to  the  Governor  of  the  state  in 
1774  and  1781,  that  there  were  in  Pittsburgh,  long  before 
Dr.  Schoepf 's  visit,  men  of  high  principles  and  integrity, 
who  for  years  played  important  parts  in  war  and  peace,  in 
the  upbuilding  of  the  town,  state  and  nation.  And  when 
the  shifting  nature  of  the  population  is  considered,  the 
coming  and  going  of  emigrants  for  points  below  on  the 
Ohio,  and  the  custom  —  which  prevails  to  this  day  the  world 
over  —  of  making  the  greatest  profit  possible  out  of  the 
purchaser  who  of  necessity  buys  but  once  and  passes  on,  a 
juster  light  is  shed  on  these  pioneers  of  Pittsburgh.  They 
were  no  diiferent  in  this  respect  than  those  of  other  towns 
on  the  great  highways  of  travel  in  early  times.  The  ex- 
tent of  manufacturing  was  limited  then  to  articles  of  wear- 
ing apparel  and  some  of  the  cruder  implements  and  uten- 
sils for  daily  use.  The  first  industries  of  Pittsburgh  were 
those  necessary  to  the  preparation  of  material  for  building 
purposes,  and  they  date  back  to  the  erection  of  Fort  Pitt, 
in  the  construction  of  which,  large  quantities  of  bricks, 
scantling,  planking  and  squared  timbers  were  used.    In  the 

[  87  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

G  overnment  bill  of  sale  of  the  fort,  the  commandant 's  house 
and  other  buildings,  over  a  million  bricks  and  several 
thousand  feet  of  scantling,  planking,  etc.,  were  itemized. 
This  material  must  have  been  manufactured  here,  as  its  bulk 
and  weight,  the  cost  and  distance  of  transportation  were  too 
great  for  carriage  over  the  mountains.  It  has  been  main- 
tained that  this  material  was  not  only  carried  over  the 
mountains,  but  that  the  brick  was  made  in  England.  There 
is  no  absolute  proof  of  this  accessible.  On  the  contrary,  it 
is  a  well  known  fact  that  the  early  brick  made  in  this 
country  was  of  the  English  pattern  where  the  English  set- 
tled, of  the  Dutch  where  the  Dutch  predominated,  etc. 
Hence,  it  seems  reasonable  to  believe  that  the  brick  was 
manufactured  on  the  spot,  especially  as  the  early  records  of 
Pittsburgh  point  to  brick  making  here.  Judge  Bracken- 
ridge,  in  his  Gazette  letters,  speaks  of  fine  ground  on 
Ayres'  Hill  from  which  '■'■  the  best  brick  may  be  made," 
and  for  many  years,  according  to  Craig,  there  was  left  as 
evidence  of  the  plentifulness  of  brick,  the  brick  arched 
ditch  which  led  "  from  Front  street  just  below  Redoubt 
alley  into  the  Monongahela, "  and  built  by  some  one  of  the 
various  commandants  of  Fort  Pitt.  This  ditch  was  hardly 
of  sufficient  importance  to  warrant  its  construction  of 
brick  which  had  to  be  carried  over  the  mountains  at  great 
expense. 

One  of  the  earliest  industries  of  which  there  is  any  record 
is  that  of  boat  building.  After  the  completion  of  Fort  Pitt, 
the  Government,  in  the  Spring  of  1760,  dispatched  seven- 
teen boat  builders  to  this  point  to  build  batteaux  for  use  on 
the  Ohio  and  its  tributaries.  There  is  an  enumeration  of 
three  ship  carpenters  in  the  1761  list  of  houses,  inhabitants, 
etc.,  taken  from  the  original  manuscript  in  the  British 
Museum  and  published  in  Vol.  VI.  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Magazine.  Doubtless  boats  were  built  here  previous  to 
these  dates,  during  the  French  occupation.  John  McKin- 
ney,  who  was  imprisoned  in  Fort  Duquesne,  in  1756,  and 
was  later  carried  to  Canada,  from  whence  he  escaped  to 
Philadelphia,  said,  in  describing  Fort  Duquesne,  that  while 
he  was  there  a  prisoner,  '  *  about  thirty  batteaux  and  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men  came  up  the  Ohio  from  the  Mis- 

[  88  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

sissippi  leadened  with  pork,  flour,  brandy,  peas  and  Indian 
com.  They  were  three  months  in  coming  to  Fort  Duquesne, 
and  came  all  the  way  up  the  falls  without  unloading,"  It 
is  evident  from  this  that  the  river  trade  was  of  conse- 
quence prior  to  the  English  occupation,  and  it  seems  reason- 
able to  believe  that  boat  building  to  some  extent  was  car- 
ried on  here  previous  to  1760.  Batteaux  were  unquestion- 
ably the  first  style  of  boats  constructed ;  traders  used  them 
for  the  transjDortation  of  their  peltry  and  provisions. 
Later,  as  necessity  arose,  various  styles  of  boats  were 
made,  such  as  the  keel  boats,  with  a  capacity  of  from 
twenty  to  thirty  tons;  arks,  which  took  on  board  nearly 
enough  people  to  form  a  settlement,  including  live  stock; 
also  flats  and  "  Kentucke  "  boats.  In  the  diary  of  James 
Kenney,  under  date  of  April  fourth,  1761,  he  speaks  of  one 
William  Ramsey  having  two  little  boats,  square  at  the 
stems  and  joined  at  the  sterns  by  a  swivel,  thus  making 
the  two,  in  form,  one  boat  that  would  turn  around  shorter 
than  a  single  boat  of  the  same  length.  He  also  speaks  of  a 
sort  of  an  "  engine  that  goes  with  wheels  enclosed  in  a  box, 
to  be  worked  by  one  man  by  sitting  on  ye  end  of  ye  box,  and 
tredding  on  treddles  at  bottom  with  his  feet,  set  ye  wheels 
agoing  which  works  scullers  or  short  paddles  fixed  over  ye 
gunnels,  turning  them  round  —  will  make  ye  boate  go  as  if 
two  men  rowed  and  he  can  steer  at  ye  same  time  by  lines 
like  plow  lines."  The  industry  of  boat  building  was  men- 
tioned by  Matthew  Clarkson  in  the  account  of  his  visit  to 
Pittsburgh  and  the  "  ship  yards  "  here,  in  1766.  What 
kind  of  boats  he  saw  at  the  yards  is  not  stated.  Some  of 
them  may  have  been  flats  or  broad  horns.  It  is  known 
that  the  Government  boat  builders  of  1760  built  flat  boats 
as  well  as  batteaux.  A  few  years  later,  1776,  two  men, 
Gibson  and  Linn,  had  made  the  then  perilous  trip  to  New 
Orleans  and  return  by  water.  They  brought  back,  as  cargo, 
one  hundred  and  thirty-six  kegs  of  gunpowder,  for  use  in 
the  war  with  Great  Britain.  The  following  year,  on  Feb- 
ruary twenty-third,  fourteen  carpenters  and  sawyers  came 
over  from  Philadelphia  and,  near  a  saw  mill  on  the  Monon- 
gahela,  fourteen  miles  above  Fort  Pitt,  built  thirty  bat- 
teaux which  were  intended  for  the  transportation  of  troops. 

[  89  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Another  industry,  of  which  there  is  an  account,  was  the  dis- 
tillery erected  here  by  Jonathan  Plummer  ' '  previous  to  the 
year  1770  *  *  *  a  short  distance  above  where  the  ar- 
senal is  now  located,"  and  it  is  noted  that  "  in  1770  George 
Washington  stopped  here  and  drank  some  of  the  whiskey 
made  by  Mr.  Plummer,"  But  boat  building  continued  to  be 
the  chief  industry  here  and  at  various  points  along  the 
rivers  for  som.e  years.  The  inestimable  advantages  of  the 
location  at  the  junction  of  the  Allegheny  and  Ohio  rivers 
were  yet  undreamed  of.  Fuel,  the  costliest  and  most 
important  factor  in  the  process  of  manufacturing,  lay  in 
abundance  to  the  south  in  plain  sight  of  the  town.  The 
Reverend  Charles  Beatty  noted  that  coal  was  used  in  the 
garrison  at  Pittsburgh  in  1766.  "  Coal  Hill  "  was  burning 
then  from  a  fire  caused  by  careless  workmen  in  the  pit. 
But  coal  seems  to  have  been  little  thought  of  for  other  than 
domestic  use  for  many  years  after  this,  and  for  many  years 
after  the  mention  made  of  it  in  Arthur  Lee's  journal  in 
1784.  It  remained  for  the  laws  of  necessity  and  commercial 
self  preservation  to  turn  it  to  its  greatest  use. 

The  advantage  or  facility  of  transportation,  then,  to- 
gether with  the  town's  importance  as  a  trading  post  and 
point  of  transshipment  from  a  land  to  a  water  route,  re- 
mained the  chief  elements  in  its  growth  down  to  the  last  de- 
cade of  the  century.  The  history  of  the  period  records 
numerous  instances  of  emigrants  on  their  way  west  stop- 
ping at  Pittsburgh  to  purchase  or  build  boats  for  transport 
and  to  replenish  their  supplies.  The  rivers  were  the  great 
highways  of  travel.  The  Monongahela  was  declared  open 
to  the  public  in  1782,  and  the  Ohio  and  Allegheny  were  de^ 
clared  public  highways  shortly  after.  Rights  were  also 
granted  for  ferries  at  various  points  along  the  rivers.  At 
Pittsburgh,  William  Butler  was  granted  the  right,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1783,  to  conduct  a  ferry  to  Pittsburgh  from  the 
reserve  tract  opposite  Pittsburgh  on  the  Allegheny.  John 
Ormsby  was  granted  a  right  for  a  ferry  across  the  Monon- 
gahela in  March,  1784.  At  the  same  time  David  Elliot  ob- 
tained a  similar  right  for  a  ferry  from  Saw  Mill  Run  to  the 
opposite  bank  of  the  Ohio.  In  September,  1785,  Jacob 
Bausman  was  granted  the  right  to  establish  a  ferry  from 

[  90  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

the  opposite  bank  of  the  Monongahela  to  Pittsburgh,  and 
Hugh  Ross  was  granted  a  right  to  establish  a  ferry  from 
the  south  side  of  the  Monongahela  to  Pittsburgh  in  1786. 
This  ferry  was  free  to  the  people  of  Washington  county 
(which  then  extended  to  the  waters  of  the  Monongahela  and 
Ohio,  opposite  Pittsburgh),  during  certain  hours  on  Sun- 
days, to  enable  them  to  attend  divine  service  in  Pittsburgh. 

Among  the  pioneers  who  were  attracted  to  Pittsburgh  in 
these  early  years,  John  Scull  and  Joseph  Hall,  the  founders 
of  the  Pittsburgh  Gazette,  stand  in  the  foreground.  John 
Scull,  at  the  time  of  his  arrival,  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age.  He  was  descended  from  a  family  of  Quakers, 
who  emigrated  from  Bristol,  England,  to  Chester,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1665.  Scull  and  Hall  were  possessed  of  only 
a  small  amount  of  capital,  but  they  fearlessly  ventured 
it  in  the  newspaper  enterprise  with  full  faith  in  ultimate 
success.  On  the  twenty-ninth  of  July,  1786,  the  first  num- 
bers of  the  Gazette  appeared.  This  was  the  first  news- 
paper published  west  of  the  Allegheny  mountains.  The 
first  home  of  the  Gazette  was  in  the  rude  building  situated 
on  the  corner  of  Water  street  and  Chancery  lane.  The 
paper  was  jDrinted  on  a  Ramage  press  so  small  that  but  one 
page,  ten  by  sixteen  inches,  could  be  printed  at  a  time. 
Though  the  Gazette  at  this  time  was  only  a  four-page  paper, 
it  was  a  day's  work  of  ten  hours  to  turn  out  seven  hundred 
copies.  For  about  ten  years  it  was  necessary  to  use  paper 
manufactured  in  the  East  and  brought  over  the  mountains 
by  the  uncertain  pack  horse  or  by  wagon.  Occasionally, 
when  the  stock  ran  out,  it  was  necessary  to  publish  the 
issue  on  cartridge  paper  borrowed  from  the  garrison.  On 
June  twenty-fourth,  1797,  Mr.  Scull  announced  that  it  gave 
him  great  pleasure  to  acquaint  his  readers  with  the  fact 
that  the  Gazette  was  printed  on  paper  manufactured  in  the 
western  country  on  Redstone  creek  (Brownsville),  Fayette 
county,  by  Jackson  and  Sliarpless. 

In  the  early  numbers  appeared  the  following  announce- 
ment: "  Printed  and  sold  by  John  Scull  and  Joseph  Hall, 
at  their  printing  office  in  Water  street,  near  the  Ferry, 
where  subscriptions  (at  seventeen  shillings  and  six  pence 
per  annum)  advertisements,  etc.,  for  this  paper  are  thank- 

[  91  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

fully  received,  and  printing  in  its  different  branches  is  done 
with  care,  elegance  and  expedition.  Advertisements  not 
exceeding  one  square  are  inserted  three  weeks  for  one 
dollar  and  every  continuance  after,  one-quarter  of  a  dol- 
lar." 

Joseph  Hall  did  not  live  to  see  the  Gazette  an  assured 
success;  he  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  in  November, 
1786,  less  than  four  months  after  the  first  issue.  Jolm 
Boyd  succeeded  him  as  partner  of  Mr.  Scull. 

It  was  evidently  the  desire  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
Gazette  from  the  beginning  to  have  the  subscriber  pay  the 
cost  of  the  delivery  of  his  paper.  In  the  issue  of  August 
thirtieth,  1786,  one  John  Blair  wished  to  inform  the  inhabi- 
tants on  the  Monongahela  and  neighborhood  adjoining,  that 
he  was  to  pass  up  and  down  the  said  river  from  Pittsburgh 
to  Gastings  Ferry,  which  was  thirty-five  miles  by  water, 
every  week  with  a  boat:  "All  persons  on  or  near  said  river 
who  have  subscribed  for  the  Pittsburgh  Gazette  or  may 
hereafter  subscribe,  can  have  their  papers  brought  to 
them  every  week  at  a  more  reasonable  rate  than  any  other 
conveyance  and  without  disappointment."  How  well  John 
Blair  performed  his  part  of  the  contract  in  the  delivery  of 
papers  is  not  on  record,  but  that  the  delivery  of  papers 
was  one  of  the  chief  difficulties  encountered  in  the  enter- 
prise is  certain.  Mention  was  made  of  it  among  other 
obstacles  to  publication  in  the  issue  of  the  paper  on  its  first 
anniversary.  It  was  stated  that:  "  One  year  has  now 
evolved  since  the  publication  of  this  Gazette.  The  under- 
taking was  represented  to  us  to  be  hazardous,  and  we  have 
found  it  to  be  so.  The  expense  of  paper  at  such  a  distance 
from  mills,  the  wearing  of  our  types,  and  our  own  labour, 
is  certain  and  constant.  The  encouragement  of  the  public 
is  fluctuating  and  uncertain.  It  does  not  occur  to  all  that 
they  ought  to  encourage  a  paper  in  its  infancy,  for  what  it 
may  be  in  future  years.  The  principal  difficulty  under 
which  we  have  laboured  has  been  the  lack  of  a  speedy  and 
certain  mode  of  conveyance  to  our  subsccribers.  We  have 
been  at  all  times  careful  to  seize  opportunities  of  convey- 
ance when  they  offered,  but  have  been  frequently  deceived 
by  those  who  have  been  entrusted  by  us.    A  knowledge  of 

[  92  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHAETER 

characters  may  enable  us  for  the  future  to  judge  better 
with  whom  we  may  entrust  our  packets.  But  it  must  rest 
with  our  subscribers  themselves  in  the  different  neighbor- 
hoods to  devise  means  to  have  their  paper  brought  to  them. 
It  will  be  necessary  for  those  who  have  been  subscribers 
from  the  commencement  of  the  first  publication,  to  recon- 
tinue  their  subscriptions  by  sending  the  same,  stipulated  in 
cash  or  produce." 

The  Gazette  was  a  supporter  of  Washington  and  the  Fed- 
eral party.  Apparently  the  Federal  party  and  principles 
were  in  need  of  advocates  in  Western  Pennsylvania  at  the 
close  of  the  Revolution.  Among  the  earliest  articles  in  the 
Gazette  was  a  description  of  Pittsburgh  by  Judge  Hugh 
Henry  Brackenridge  (father  of  Judge  H.  M.  Brackenridge). 
Judge  Brackenridge  was  born  in  Scotland,  but  at  an  early 
age  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  York  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Susquehanna.  Through 
his  own  efforts  he  acquired  a  good  education,  graduated 
from  Princeton  College  in  the  same  class  with  Madison  and 
Frenean,  the  poet.  Brackenridge  studied  for  the  ministry, 
was  licensed  to  preach,  but  was  never  ordained,  abandoning 
the  ministry  for  the  law.  In  1781  he  came  to  Pittsburgh, 
and  became  one  of  the  most  prominent  lawyers  and  men 
of  the  vicinity.  The  articles  mentioned  appeared  in  the 
Gazette,  during  the  year  1786,  and  were  written  for  the 
purpose  of  inducing  immigration,  therefore,  some  allow- 
ance should  be  made  for  the  personal  interest  of  the  writer. 
They  furnish  much  information  as  to  the  early  state  of 
society  and  the  appearance  of  Pittsburgh,  hence,  are  given 
at  some  length. 


**  Observations  on  the  Country  at  the  Head  of  the  Ohio 
River,  with  Digressions  on  Various  Subjects,  July 
twenty-ninth,  1786.  . 

' '  The  Allegheny  river  running  from  the  northeast  and  the 
Monongahela  from  the  southwest,  meet  at  an  angle  of  about 
thirty-three  degrees  and  form  the  Ohio;  which  is  said  to 
signify  in  some  of  the  Indian  languages,  bloody;  so  that 

[  93  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

the  Ohio  river  may  be  translated,  the  ''  River  of  Blood." 
The  French  have  called  it  "  La  Belle  Rivierre." 

' '  It  may  have  received  the  name  Ohio  about  the  beginning 
of  the  present  century,  when  the  Six  Nations  made  war 
upon  their  fellow  savages  in  these  territories  and  subjected 
several  tribes. 

' '  The  word  Monongahela  is  said  to  signify  in  some  of  the 
Indian  languages,  the  '^  Falling  in  Banks,"  that  is,  the 
stream  of  the  Falling  in,  or  Mouldering  banks. 

''At  the  distance  of  about  four  or  five  hundred  yards  from 
from  the  head  of  the  Ohio,  is  a  small  island  lying  to  the 
northwest  side  of  the  river  at  a  distance  of  seventy-five 
yards  from  the  shore.  It  is  covered  with  wood,  and  at  the 
lowest  part  is  a  lofty  hill  famous  for  the  number  of  wild 
turkeys  which  inhabit  it.  The  island  is  not  more  in  length 
than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  and  in  breadth  about  one  hundred 
yards.  A  small  space  on  the  upper  end  is  cleared  and 
grown  with  grass.  The  savages  had  cleared  it  during  the 
late  war,  a  party  of  them  attached  to  the  United  States 
having  placed  their  wigwams  and  raised  corn  there.  The 
Ohio,  at  a  distance  of  about  one  mile  from  its  source,  winds 
round  the  lower  end  of  the  island  and  disappears.  I  call  the 
confluence  of  the  Allegheny  and  Monongahela  the  source  of 
the  Ohio. 

''At  the  head  of  the  Ohio  river  stands  the  town  of  Pitts- 
burgh on  an  angular  piece  of  ground,  the  two  rivers  form- 
ing the  two  sides  of  the  angle ;  on  this  point  stood  the  old 
IVench  fort  known  by  the  name  of  Fort  Duquesne,  which 
was  evacuated  and  blown  up  by  the  French  in  the  campaign 
of  the  British  under  General  Forbes ;  the  appearance  of  the 
ditch  and  mound,  with  the  salient  angles  and  bastions  still 
remain  so  as  to  prevent  that  perfect  level  of  the  ground 
which  otherwise  would  exist. 

"  Just  above  these  works  is  the  present  garrison,  built  by 
General  Stanwix  and  is  said  to  have  cost  the  Crown  of 
Britain  sixty  thousand  pounds.  The  fortification  is  regu- 
lar, constructed  according  to  the  rules  of  art.  and  about 
three  years  ago  put  in  good  repair  by  General  Irvine,  who 
commanded  at  the  post.  It  has  the  advantage  of  an  ex- 
cellent magazine,  built  of  stone.     There  is  a  line  of  posts 

[  94  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

below  it  on  the  Ohio  river,  to  the  distance  of  three  hundred 
miles.  The  savages  come  to  this  place  for  trade  and  not 
for  war,  and  any  future  contest  we  may  have  with  them 
will  be  on  the  heads  of  the  more  northern  rivers  that  fall 
into  the  Mississippi. 

' '  The  bank  of  the  Allegheny,  on  the  northwest  side  of  the 
town  of  Pittsburgh,  is  planted  with  an  orchard  of  apple 
trees,  with  some  pear  trees  intermixed ;  these  trees  are  said 
to  have  been  planted  by  the  British  officer  who  commanded 
here  early  in  the  first  occupation  of  it  by  the  Crown  of  Eng- 
land. Near  the  garrison  on  the  Allegheny  bank  were 
formerly  what  was  called  the  King's  Artillery  Gardens, 
cultivated  highly  to  usefulness  and  pleasure. 

'^  On  the  margin  of  this  river  once  stood  a  row  of  houses, 
elegant  and  neat  and  not  unworthy  of  the  European  taste, 
but  they  were  swept  away  in  the  course  of  time,  some  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  an  opening  to  the  river  from  the 
garrison,  that  the  artillery  might  incommode  the  approach- 
ing enemy,  and,  deprived  of  shelter,  some  were  torn  away 
by  the  fury  of  the  rising  river ;  these  buildings  were  the  re- 
cepticles  of  the  ancient  Indian  trade,  which  coming  from 
the  westward,  centered  in  this  quarter,  but  of  these  build- 
ings no  trace  remains;  those  who  twenty  years  ago  saw 
them  flourish,  can  only  say,  '  here  they  stood.' 

"  On  the  west  side  of  the  Allegheny  river,  opposite  the 
orchard,  is  a  level  of  three  thousand  acres,  reserved  by  the 
state  to  be  laid  out  in  lots  for  the  purpose  of  a  town.  A 
small  stream  at  right  angles  to  the  river  passes  through 
it.  On  this  ground  it  is  supposed  a  town  may  stand,  but 
on  all  hands  it  is  excluded  from  the  praise  of  being  a  situa- 
tion so  convenient  as  on  the  side  of  the  river  where  the 
present  town  is  situated. 

"  This  bank  is  closely  set  with  buildings  nearly  half  a 
mile,  and  behind  this  range  the  town  chiefly  lies,  falling  back 
on  the  plains  between  the  two  rivers.  To  the  eastward  is 
Grant's  Hill;  this  is  the  hill  and  from  whence  it  takes  its 
name,  where  in  the  war  which  terminated  in  the  year  1763, 
Grant,  advancing  with  about  eight  hundred  Caledonians  or 
Highland  Scotch  troops,  beat  a  reveille  a  little  after  sun- 
rise, to  the  French  garrison  who  accompanied  by  a  number 

[  95  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

of  savages,  sallied  out  and  flanking  him  unseen  from  the 
bottom  on  the  left  and  right,  then  covered  with  wood,  as- 
cended the  hill,  tomahawked  and  cut  his  troops  to  pieces 
and  made  Grant  himself  prisoner.  Bones  and  weapons 
are  yet  found  on  the  hill  —  the  bones  white  with  weather 
and  the  weapons  covered  with  rust. 

' '  On  the  summit  of  this  hill  is  a  mound  of  earth,  supposed 
to  be  the  ancient  burying  place  of  the  savages.  There  can 
be  no  doubt  of  this  as  on  opening  some  of  the  hills  of  earth, 
bones  are  found.  In  places  where  stones  are  plenty  these 
mounds  are  raised  of  stones  and  skeletons  are  found  in 
them. 

''  To  the  northeast  of  Grant's  Hill  there  is  one  still  higher, 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  which  is  called  the  Quarry  Hill, 
from  the  excellent  stone  quarry  that  has  been  opened  in  it. 
IVom  the  Quarry  Hill  you  have  a  view  of  four  or  five  miles 
of  the  Allegheny  river.  Directly  opposite  on  the  Mononga- 
hela,  to  the  southeast,  stands  a  hill  of  the  same  height  and 
appearance,  known  as  Ayre's  Hill,  so  called  from  a  British 
engineer  of  that  name;  on  this  hill  was  the  residence  of 
Anthony  Thompson,  the  vestige  of  whose  habitation  still 
remains,  an  extent  of  ground  cleared  by  him  lies  to  the 
north,  accustomed  to  long  cultivation,  and  now  thrown  out 
a  common.  The  best  brick  may  be  made  from  this 
ground. 

' '  The  town  of  Pittsburgh  consists  at  present  of  one  hun- 
dred houses ;  the  inhabitants  are  about  1,500,*  this  number 
doubling  almost  every  year  from  the  accession  of  people 
from  abroad  and  the  number  bom  in  town. 

''A  clergyman  is  settled  in  this  town  of  the  Calvinist 
church.  Some  of  the  inhabitants  are  of  the  Lutheran  or 
Episcopal  church,  but  the  distinction  is  brought  little  into 
view. 

''A  clergyman  of  the  German  Calvinist  church  also  oc- 
casionally preaches  in  this  town  and  it  is  expected  from  the 
increase  of  German  inhabitants  that  a  clergyman  who  can 
deliver  himself  in  this  language  will  in  a  short  time  be  sup- 

*  Isaac  Craig  in  his  "History  of  Pittsburgh"  says:  "This  estimate  «  *  * 
is  a  most  extravagant  one,  being  about  fifteen  to  a  house,  which  is  incredible. 
*  *  *"  Judge  Brackenridge  doubtless  had  in  mind  the  total  population  of  the 
town  and  adjacent  territory. 

[  96  ] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

ported  here  altogether.  In  laying  out  the  town  of  Pitts- 
burgh five  lots  have  been  assigned  for  churches  and  for  bury- 
ing grounds ;  these  comprehend  the  former  burying  ground 
and  which  is  adjoining  to  the  ancient  cemetery  of  the  na- 
tives, being  one  of  those  mounds  before  mentioned,  and 
which  from  the  height  of  earth  in  this  place  would  seem 
to  have  been  a  place  of  sepulchre  for  ages.  These  lots  are 
about  the  center  of  the  town  as  it  is  laid  out  and  at  an  in- 
termediate distance  between  the  two  rivers.  A  church  is 
on  the  way  to  be  built  of  squared  timber  and  moderate 
dimensions  which  may  accommodate  the  people  until  a 
larger  building  can  be  erected. 

' '  In  this  town  we  have  also  two  gentlemen  of  the  medical 
faculty,  one  a  native  of  South  Britain  (Dr.  Nathaniel  Bed- 
ford) the  other  a  native  of  America  (Dr.  Thomas  Parker), 
but  though  health  may  be  counted  a  birth  right  of  this  place 
we  account  these  gentlemen  a  great  acquisition.  I  will 
not  take  the  liberty  of  saying  anything  with  respect  to  the 
respective  merits  or  professional  abilities  of  these  gentle- 
men, but  I  will  answer  for  it  that  if  individuals  or  families 
at  any  time  should  think  it  advisable  to  cross  the  mountains 
and  spend  a  few  months  at  Pittsburgh  for  the  sake  of 
health  they  will  find  it  in  their  power  to  receive  the  best 
advice  that  science  can  afford  and  the  most  judicious  treat- 
ment. 

"  There  are  also  two  of  the  profession  of  the  law  (Judge 
Brackenridge  and  John  Woods)  resident  in  this  town;  the 
bulk  of  the  inhabitants  are  traders,  mechanics  and  laborers ; 
of  mechanics  and  laborers  there  is  still  a  great  want, 
masons  and  carpenters  are  especially  wanted,  indeed  from 
this  circumstance  the  improvement  of  the  town  and  build- 
ings is  greatly  retarded.  This  town  in  future  time  will  be 
a  place  of  great  manufactory.  Indeed  the  greatest  on  the 
continent,  or  perhaps  in  the  world.  The  present  carriage 
from  Philadelphia  is  six  pence  for  each  pound  weight  and 
however  improved  the  conveyance  may  be,  and  by  what- 
ever channel,  yet  such  is  our  distance  from  either  of  the 
oceans  that  the  importation  of  heavy  articles  will  still  be 
expensive.  The  manufacturing  them  will  therefore  be- 
come more  an  object  here  than  elsewhere.  It  is  a  prospect 
7  [  97  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

of  this  with  men  of  reflection  which  renders  the  soil  of  this 
place  so  valuable. 

**  The  situation  of  the  town  of  Pittsburgh  is  greatly  to  be 
chosen  for  a  seat  of  learning,  the  fine  air,  the  excellent 
water,  the  plenty  and  cheapness  of  provisions,  render  it 
highly  favorable.  The  inhabitants  have  entertained  the 
idea  of  instituting  an  academy,  but  have  it  not  in  their 
power  all  at  once  to  accomplish  every  wish.  Public  spirit 
is  not  more  apparent  amongst  any  people  but  it  is  impos- 
sible to  answer  every  demand  which  a  thousand  wants  of 
those  settling  a  new  country  require.  The  first  efforts 
have  been  made  to  accommodate  themselves  with  lots  of 
ground,  with  buildings  and  the  common  means  of  life,  next 
to  establish  and  support  a  Christian  church,  in  a  short 
time  more  conveniently  they  may  be  able  to  attend  to  that 
great  object,  the  education  of  youth,  one  or  two  schools 
are  established  to  teach  the  first  elements,  but  it  is  greatly 
desirable  that  there  be  such  which  can  conduct  to  more  ad- 
vancement in  science.  It  is  provided  by  our  Constitution 
that  public  schools  be  erected  in  every  county.  Agreeable 
to  this  provision  it  may  be  expedient  that  the  Legislature 
establish  schools  in  each  county,  either  by  an  appropriation 
of  something  from  the  public  funds,  or  by  special  county 
tax,  nevertheless,  I  am  disposed  to  be  of  the  opinion  that  it 
would  better  answer  the  object  that  a  few  schools,  well  en- 
dowed, be  established  throughout  the  State  where  men  of 
superior  academic  knowledge  may  find  it  advisable  to  re- 
main a  number  of  years  or  for  life." 

There  can  be  no  question  of  the  value  to  Pittsburgh  of 
these  letters  of  Judge  Brackenridge.  The  town  had  already 
attracted  considerable  attention  in  the  East,  as  has  been 
noted,  and  his  efforts  through  the  Gazette  accelerated  the 
flow  of  settlers,  not  only  to  Pittsburgh,  but  to  Ohio  and 
Kentucky. 

In  the  same  year  that  Brackenridge 's  letters  appeared, 
Pittsburghers  were  rid  of  the  inconvenience  of  trusting 
their  letters  to  casual  travellers.  The  effort  of  Isaac 
Craig,  which  resulted  in  failure  to  establish  a  post-rider 
between  the  east  and  west  in  1784,  was  again  taken  up  with 
aid  from  Philadelphia  and  accomplished.    In  the  Gazette 

[  98  ] 


FIKST  PITTSBUEGH  POST  OFFICE  AND   FIRST    HOME    OF    THE    GAZETTE. 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

of  September  thirtieth,  1786,  the  following  appeared: 
'^  Extract  from  a  letter  dated  Philadelphia,  September 
fourteenth,  1786.  *  Mr.  Brison  has  just  returned  from  New 
York  with  orders  to  establish  a  post  from  this  place  to 
Pittsburgh,  and  one  from  Virginia  to  Bedford,  the  two  to 
meet  at  Bedford,  from  whence  one  will  proceed  to  Pitts- 
burgh.' "  The  next  year  the  Post-office  Department  pub- 
lished this  notice  in  the  same  paper:  "  Post-office,  March 
second,  1787,  Philadelphia.  Notice  is  hereby  given  that  in 
consequence  of  a  contract  entered  into  for  that  purpose 
there  will  shortly  be  a  regular  communication  by  post  be- 
tween the  town  of  Alexandria  in  Virginia,  and  Pittsburgh 
in  this  State,  by  the  route  of  Newgate,  Leesburgh,  Win- 
chester, Fort  Cmnberland  and  Bedford.  The  mail  will  be 
carried  weekly  from  May  first  to  November  first,  and  once 
a  fortnight  the  remainder  of  the  year.  This  establishment 
will  take  place  as  soon  as  the  necessary  arrangements  can 
be  made.  If  any  person  inclines  to  form  a  more  direct 
communication  between  this  city  (Philadelphia)  and  Fort 
Pitt  by  carrying  the  mail  regularly  from  this  office  to  Bed- 
ford so  as  to  tally  with  the  Virginia  post,  that  route  may  be 
contracted  for  upon  advantageous  terms,  as  the  exclusive 
privilege  of  carrying  letters  and  packets  for  here  between 
this  city  and  Bedford,  and  all  the  emoluments  arising  there- 
from, will  be  granted  for  any  term,  not  exceeding  seven 
years,  to  any  person  undertaking  the  business  at  his  own 
expense  and  giving  satisfactory  security  for  performance." 
The  first  Postmaster  of  Pittsburgh  was  John  Scull,  of  the 
Gazette.  The  post-office  and  the  Gazette  plant  were  in  the 
same  building,  which  was  located  on  Water  street,  near 
Ferry.  Mr.  Scull  served  as  Postm^aster  for  seven  years,  or 
until  1794,  when  George  Adams  was  appointed  to  succeed 
him.  Some  idea  of  the  business  done  at  this  office  may  be 
gained  from  the  postage  receipts  which  amounted  to 
$110.99  for  the  year  ending  October  first,  1790,  three  years 
after  its  establishment.  The  rates  of  postage  were  as  fol- 
lows :  Single  letters  carried  any  distance  up  to  and  includ- 
ing forty-eight  miles,  12  cents;  forty-one  to  ninety  miles, 
inclusive,  15  cents;  ninety-one  to  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles,  18%  cents;  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  to  three  hun- 

[  99  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

dred  miles,  25^2  cents;  three  hundred  and  one  to  five  hun- 
dred miles,  37^/^  cents.  Double  letters  (two  sheets)  double 
rates ;  triple  letters,  triple  rates ;  letters  weighing  one  ounce 
or  more,  12  cents  for  each  quarter  ounce.  Newspapers,  1^2 
cents  each  up  to  a  distance  of  one  hundred  miles  if  not 
carried  out  of  the  State;  if  carried  out  of  the  State  for  a 
distance  of  over  one  hundred  miles,  214  cents.  Magazines 
and  pamphlets  were  carried  for  about  the  same  rate. 

Among  other  public  improvements  of  this  period,  may  be 
mentioned  the  establishment  of  a  Market  House.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Pittsburgh,  held  Tuesday, 
March  first,  1787,  Messrs.  Hugh  Ross,  Stephen  Bayard  and 
Reverend  Samuel  Barr  were  appointed  a  committee  to  pro- 
pose a  plan  for  the  erection  of  a  Market  House.  On  the 
twelfth  of  March  the  committee  met  the  people  in  the  Public 
Square,  where  the  Pittsburgh  Market  is  now  situated,  to 
report.  As  the  result  of  this  meeting,  a  Market  House  was 
erected  at  what  is  now  Second  avenue  and  Market  street. 
The  Market  House  was  later  removed  near  the  Court  House 
on  what  is  now  Market  street,  between  Fourth  and  Fifth 
avenues.  The  nature  and  extent  of  Pittsburgh's  mercantile 
enterprises  at  this  time  can  best  be  indicated  by  a  few  se- 
lections of  the  numerous  advertisements  which  appeared 
in  the  Gazette. 

' '  Just  received  from  Philadelphia  and  to  be  sold  by  Wil- 
son and  Wallace,  at  their  store  in  Water  street,  next  to  Mr. 
David  Duncan's  Tavern,  the  following  goods,  which  they 
will  dispose  of  at  the  most  reasonable  terms  for  good  mer- 
chantable flour,  beef,  cattle,  butter  or  cash: 

*'  Superfine,  second  and  coarse  broadcloths,  corduroys, 
velvets  and  velverets,  best  beaver  fustian,  best  beaver  pil- 
low, cotton  denims,  jeans  of  the  first  quality,  dimities,  mar- 
seilles  quilting,  satinets  of  all  kinds,  fine  Irish  and  coarse 
linens  of  the  best  quality,  cambrics,  lawns  and  muslins, 
gauzes  of  all  kinds,  common  fustians,  striped  holland,  coffee 
mills,  Testaments,  Bibles,  spelling  books  and  primers.  A 
general  assortment  of  pewter  dishes,  plates,  etc.  Best  In- 
dian and  Roman  handerkerchiefs.  Ribbons  of  all  kinds, 
colored  threads  of  all  kinds;  chintz  of  the  best  quality, 
calico  of  different  kinds;  stamped  cotton  and  cross  bar 

[  100  ] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

handkerchiefs;  flannels;  groceries  of  all  kinds;  cross  cut 
saws;  carpenter's  and  wheel-wright 's  axes;  waggoners' 
tools ;  women's  shoes  and  shoe  heels ;  dust  and  shoe  brushes ; 
wool  cards ;  flint  ware  of  all  kinds ;  wafers,  sealing  wax,  and 
ink  powder;  writing  paper  and  inkstands;  desk  furniture; 
saddlery  of  different  kinds,  sewing  silk ;  scissors,  thimbles, 
(men's  and  women's)  fur  and  wool  hats,  black  and  white; 
sickles  and  scythes;  nankeens;  powder,  lead,  and  salt;  with 
many  articles  too  tedious  to  enumerate." 

"  John  and  Samuel  Calhoun. 

**  At  the  house  of  Andrew  Watson,  Front  street,  Russia 
sheeting,  white  thread  and  Cotton  stockings,  Delft  and 
queensware;  blankets  and  rugs;  silk  stockings,  silk  worsted 
and  kid  gloves  for  women,  men's  beaver  gloves;  a  quantity 
of  books  of  different  kinds ;  hatters  trimmings  of  all  kinds ; 
flowered,  striped  and  bordered  lawn ;  velvet  bindings ;  also 
a  large  assortment  of  castings  of  every  kind ;  sugar,  coffee, 
chocolate,  tea,  nutmegs,  pepper,  with  a  variety  of  other 
articles  too  tedious  to  mention,  all  of  which  they  will  sell  on 
the  lowest  terms,  for  cash,  flour,  rye,  bacon,  ginseng,  snake- 
root,  deer  skins,  furs  and  all  kinds  of  certificates." 

"  September  first,  1787. 

'*  Just  opened  for  sale  by  David  Kennedy,  at  Mr.  John 
Ormsby  's  in  Pittsburgh,  the  following  goods,  which  he  will 
sell  on  the  most  reasonable  terms  for  cash,  country  produce 
or  Ginseng: 

*'  Superfine  and  second  broad-cloths,  coarse  ditto,  Half 
Thicks,  Marseilles  quilting,  chintzes  and  calicoes,  moreens 
and  durants,  striped  and  plain  crapes,  Irish  linen.  Satins 
and  modes,  plain  and  spotted  lawns,  gauze  cambrics,  cordu- 
roys, velvets  and  plush,  men's  and  women's  cotton  and 
worsted  hose,  men's  and  women's  gloves  and  mitts,  ribbons 
of  different  kinds,  sewing  silk,  fine  and  coarse  threads, 
ridding  and  small  combs,  cups  and  saucers,  tumblers  and 
other  glasses,  knives  and  forks,  shoe  and  knee  buckles,  but- 
tons of  various  kinds,  snuffers,  an  assortment  of  saddlerj'- 
ware,  carpenter's  tools,  bar  iron,  fine  and  coarse  salt,  with 
a  variety  of  other  articles  too  tedious  to  enumerate. 

[  101  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

"  N.  B.  A  good  saddle  horse  to  be  sold.  Enquire  as 
above. ' ' 

Other  tradesmen  advertising  in  the  Gazette  prior  to  1790, 
were :  William  Hawting,  clockmaker ;  Gregg  &  Barker,  sil- 
versmiths, Front  street;  also  James  Poupard,  silversmith, 
in  Second  street;  George  McGunegle,  Market  street;  he  ad- 
vertised grates,  polished  and  unpolished,  andirons,  shovels, 
tongs,  and  various  hardware ;  John  and  Daniel  Craig,  hat- 
ters; M.  Curtis,  hatter;  Daniel  Britt  &  Co.,  general  store; 
Charles  RieJiards,  bakery;  Colonel  John  Gibson,  tavern  on 
the  river  bank,  ' '  Dry  &  Wet  Goods ; ' '  John  Wilkins  &  Co., 
general  store;  William  Tilton  &  Co.;  William  and  Thomas 
Greenough;  Gray  and  Forbes;  John  and  William  Ii^win; 
William  Braden  and  Thomas  Wylie;  Alexander  and  Wil- 
liam Fowler;  Adamson  and  Josiah  Tannehill;  Elliott  Wil- 
liams &  Co.;  Blair,  Wilkins  &  Co.  and,  of  course,  Craig, 
Bayard  &  Co.,  and  Gen.  James  O'Hara,  who  were  among 
the  first  merchants  of  the  town.  The  Gazette  office  itself 
was  headquarters  for  the  numerous  legal  blanks  in  demand 
at  the  time  —  all  of  which  were  printed  by  Scull  and  Boyd 
—  spelling  books ;  The  A.  B.  C.  ivith  the  Shorter  Catechism; 
and,  in  1788,  "  The  Pittsburgh  Almanac,  or  Western 
Ephemeris." 

Abreast  of  Pittsburgh's  advance  in  the  sterner  walks  of 
life  is  to  be  found  the  commencement  of  her  career  along 
educational  ways,  which  to-day  is  blossoming  in  such  rich- 
ness, surpassing  that  of  any  industrial  city  in  the  world. 
On  the  twenty-eighth  of  February,  1787,  largely  through  the 
efforts  of  Hon.  H.  H.  Brackenridge,  the  Pennsylvania  As- 
sembly enacted  a  law  incorporating  the  Pittsburgh  Academy, 
naming  as  trustees.  Reverends  Samuel  Barr,  James  Finley, 
Jaines  Powers,  John  McMillan,  Joseph  Smith  and  Matthew 
Henderson ;  General  John  Gibson,  Colonels  Presley  Neville, 
William  Butler  and  Stephen  Bayard ;  Messrs.  David  Brad- 
ford, James  Ross,  Robert  Galbraith,  Geo.  Thompson,  Geo. 
Wallace,  Edw.  Cook,  John  Moore,  William  Todd,  A.  Lowry, 
and  Doctors  Nathaniel  Bedford  and  Thomas  Parker.  The 
organization  and  growth  of  this  and  other  educational  in- 
stitutions merits  more  space  than  can  be  given  here ;  hence 
the  subject  will  be  left  with  these  few  words  to  be  taken  up 

[  102  ] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

under  a  separate  heading  further  on.  In  passing,  mention 
should  be  made  of  the  successful  attempt  of  John  Boyd  of 
the  Gazette,  in  1788,  to  establish  a  circulating  library,  in 
response  to  his  announcement  in  the  Gazette  of  July  twenty- 
sixth,  1788,  that  as  soon  as  one  hundred  subscribers  could  be 
procured,  a  circulating  library  would  be  opened  in  the  town ; 
the  library  to  consist  of  five  hundred  well  chosen  books  to 
be  loaned  to  subscribers  on  terms  of  twenty  shillings  per 
annum. 

Previous  to  September  twenty-fourth,  1788,  Pittsburgh 
was  in  Westmoreland  county.  Out  of  Westmoreland 
county,  which  was  originally  the  largest  county  in  Western 
Pennsylvania,  had  been  erected  in  1781,  Washington 
county,  comprising  all  the  territory  west  of  the  Mononga- 
hela  river,  and,  in  1783,  Fayette  county,  comprising  the  ter- 
ritory between  the  Monongahela  and  Youghiogheny.  By 
the  Act  of  Assembly,  September  twenty-fourth,  1788,  Alle- 
gheny county  was  erected  out  of  parts  of  Westmoreland  and 
Washington  counties.  In  1789,  an  additional  portion  of 
Washington  county  was  annexed,  and  on  the  third  day  of 
March,  1792,  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  purchased  up- 
wards of  two  hundred  thousand  acres  of  the  United  States, 
on  Lake  Erie,  for  $151,740.25,  Continental  money,  thus  giv- 
ing the  State  and  the  county  a  port  on  the  great  lakes. 
Some  idea  of  the  size  of  Allegheny  county,  after  these  ad- 
ditions were  made,  may  be  gained  from  the  fact  that  when 
the  county  was  reduced  to  its  present  size  in  1800,  out  of  it 
were  erected  the  counties  of  Beaver,  Butler,  Mercer,  Craw- 
ford, Erie,  Warren,  Venango,  Armstrong  and  part  of  In- 
diana and  Clarion.  Allegheny  county  is  irregular  in  out- 
line, about  twenty-six  miles  in  diameter,  with  an  area  of 
seven  hundred  and  fifty-four  square  miles  or  four  hundred 
eighty-two  thousand,  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 

In  the  early  numbers  of  the  Gazette,  Judge  Brackenridge 
forcibly  draws  attention  to  the  great  inconvenience  caused 
the  inhabitants  of  Pittsburgh  and  vicinity  by  having  to  at- 
tend court  at  Hannastown,  the  county  seat  of  Westmore- 
land county,  situated  about  three  miles  northeast  of  what 
is  now  Greensburgh,  the  distance  from  Pittsburgh  being 
thirty  miles,  and  it  was  largely  through  his  influence  that 
the  Act  of  September  twenty-fourth,  1788,  was  passed. 

[  103  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

The  first  court  in  the  Western  Pennsylvania  country  was 
held  at  Hannastown,  April  sixth,  1773.  William  Crawford 
was  the  presiding  judge.  Judge  Crawford  had  long  been  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  residing  on  the  Youghiogheny,  opposite 
the  present  site  of  Connellsville.  In  1775,  during  the 
boundary  dispute,  Judge  Crawford  was  removed  because 
he  sided  with  Virginia.  As  Colonel  Crawford,  heading  an 
expedition  against  the  Indians  on  the  Sandusky,  he  was 
killed.  He  was  also  a  personal  friend  of  Washington.  A 
jail  was  ordered  built  by  the  court  of  April  sixth,  1773.  It 
was  constructed  of  rough  logs,  and  all  prisoners,  regardless 
of  race,  color  or  condition,  were  confined  together.  Court 
was  held  at  the  public  house  of  Robert  Hanna,  in  a  small 
room  where  nearly  all  stood,  save  the  judges,  who  occupied 
hickory  chairs  mounted  on  a  rude  bench.  The  courts  did 
not  accomplish  much  during  the  Revolution,  as  the  laws 
here,  as  elsewhere,  were  but  laxly  enforced.  Only  one  con- 
stable, a  Pittsburgher,  was  present  at  the  October  court  of 
1781.  Courts  were  held  at  Hannastown  until  October,  1786. 
The  first  court  held  at  Greensburg  was  in  January,  1787. 

Virginia  held  the  first  courts  at  Pittsburgh,  February 
twenty-first,  1775,  and  the  succeeding  few  years,  during  the 
regime  of  Lord  Dunmore  as  Governor  of  Virginia,  when 
Virginia  claimed  the  territory  between  the  Allegheny  and 
Monongahela  rivers,  and  adjacent  thereto.  The  usual  modes 
of  punishment  of  the  period  were  inflicted  on  the  guilty,  ac- 
cording to  the  offense  against  the  law.  Some  were  fined, 
some  whipped,  confined  in  the  pillory  or  stocks ;  others  had 
their  ears  cropped  or  were  branded;  murderers  were 
hanged ;  scolds  and  minor  offenders  were  ducked  in  the  river 
at  the  Point  by  means  of  a  ducking  stool  erected  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1775. 

By  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania, 
March  twelfth,  1783,  a  tract  of  land,  three  thousand  acres 
in  extent  and  rectangular,  was  surveyed  along  the  north 
shore  of  the  Allegheny  in  1785  to  provide  for  the  redemp- 
tion of  the  certificates  of  depreciation  issued  to  the  officers 
and  soldiers  of  the  Pennsylvania  line,  and  to  fulfil  the 
State's  promise  of  1780  to  donate  lands  to  them. 

On  September  eleventh,  1787,  the    Supreme    Executive 

[  104  ] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

Council  of  Pennsylvania  ordered  this  reserve  tract,  ' '  oppo- 
site Pittsburgh,"  to  be  surveyed  and  laid  out  in  lots  and 
exposed  for  sale,  reserving  a  generous  section  for  State 
and  public  purposes,  such  as  a  court  house,  goal  and  market 
house,  for  places  of  public  worship  and  burying  the  dead, 
and  a  common  of  pasture  of  one  hundred  acres.  The  survey 
was  made  early  in  1788.  This  was  the  actual  beginning  of 
"Alleghanytown,"  and  among  the  earliest  realty  holders 
were  Richard  and  William  Butler,  James  Robinson  and 
Daniel  Elliott. 

But  the  court  house  and  county  seat  were  not  destined  to 
be  located  on  that  side  of  the  river,  as  provided  by  the  Act  of 
1788,  erecting  the  county.  The  topography  was  extremely 
uninviting,  according  to  David  Redick's  report  to  the  Su- 
preme Council  of  Pennsylvania  in  February,  1788,  relative 
to  the  sale  of  lots  in  the  tract,  and  meanwhile,  the  Pitts- 
burghers  were  advocating  the  erection  of  the  county  build- 
ings in  Pittsburgh,  and  upon  their  petition  a  subsequent  act 
was  passed  April  thirteenth,  1791,  repealing  that  part  of  the 
act  authorizing  the  trustees  therein  named  to  erect  the  court 
house  and  gaol  on  the  reserved  tract  opposite  Pittsburgh. 
Section  II.  empowered  George  Wallace,  Devereux  Smith, 
William  Elliott,  Jacob  Baufman  and  John  Wilkins,  or  any 
three  of  them,  "  to  purchase  and  take  assurance  in  the  name 
of  the  commonwealth  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  county 
of  Allegheny,  of  some  convenient  piece  of  ground  in  the  said 
town  of  Pittsburgh,  and  thereupon  to  erect  a  court  house 
and  prison,  sufficient  for  the  public  purposes  of  the  said 
county."  The  act  also  authorized  them  to  draw  on  the 
County  Commissioners  for  the  necessary  sum  of  money; 
also,  until  the  county  buildings  could  be  built,  they  were 
authorized  to  rent  a  convenient  building  for  a  court  house 
and  jail  at  the  expense  of  the  county.  The  court  house 
was  erected  on  the  Diamond,  on  the  west  side  of  Market 
street,  between  Fourth  and  Fifth  streets,  where  the  Pitts- 
burgh Market  now  is.  The  structure  was  of  brick,  and  con- 
sisted of  a  main  building  with  two  wings,  the  central  part 
having  two  stories.  The  court  room  occupied  the  ground 
floor  of  the  main  building  and  was  paved  with  brick.  This 
room  was  adorned  with  Corinthian  columns,  which  served 

[  105  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

as  a  support  to  the  floor  above.  The  judge's  bench  faced 
the  main  entrance  which  was  on  Market  street.  The  wing 
towards  Fifth  street  (now  Fifth  avenue),  contained  the 
offices  of  the  Register,  Recorder  and  Sheriff,  while  the 
Treasurer  and  Commissioner  occupied  the  other  wing.  The 
architect  was  Henry  Perry,  of  whom  nothing  further  can  be 
learned  than  that  he  spent  his  latter  days  as  a  farmer  in 
the  vicinity  of  Pittsburgh.  The  builders  were  George  Rob- 
inson, carpenter ;  William  Gray,  brick  mason,  and  William 
Watson,  builder  of  the  stone  steps.  The  date  of  the  erection 
of  Allegheny  county's  first  court  house  ranges  in  the  various 
accounts  extant,  most  of  which  are  modem,  from  1789  to 
1799.  From  the  evidence  accessible  it  was  not  completed 
imtil  the  latter  date,  although  it  may  have  been  begun  very 
late  in  1795  or  in  1796.  According  to  Section  II.  of  the  Act 
of  April  thirteenth,  1791,  authorizing  the  erection  of  a  court 
house  in  Pittsburgh,  the  Commissioners  were  empowered  to 
rent  a  convenient  building  for  a  court  house  and  jail  at  the 
expense  of  the  county  until  the  county  building  could  be 
erected.  According  to  the  most  reliable  account,  courts 
were  held  in  the  second  story  of  Andrew  Watson's  house 
on  First  street,  one  door  from  Market,  for  several  years, 
beginning  in  December,  1788,  when  the  first  court  of  Quarter 
Sessions  was  held,  and  was  known  as  the  "  Court  House." 
The  same  account  states  that  in  1796  the  court  house  build- 
ing was  in  ''  progress  of  erection  in  the  Diamond  on  a 
line  with  the  western  side  of  Market  street  *  *  *  two 
wings  of  one-story  offices  for  the  use  of  the  Sheriff,  Regis- 
ter and  Recorder,  and  other  county  officers,  were  occupied 
early  in  1796,  but  the  central  building,  or  court  house 
proper,  was  not  completed  until  the  close  of  1799."  Ac- 
cording to  one  of  the  early  numbers  of  the  Gazette,  Ebenezer 
Denny  received  in  1801,  $202.64  for  the  court  house  bell, 
*'  including  irons  for  hanging  it  and  carriage  from  Phila- 
delphia, ' '  and  Henry  Perry,  $36.63  ' '  for  making  wheel  and 
frame  for  court  house  bell  and  erecting  bell  in  belfry  of 
court  house. ' '  In  the  Record  Book  of  the  Town  Council  of 
Pittsburgh,  there  are  minutes  of  a  meeting  held  October 
third,  1795,  in  which  a  motion  was  made  by  John  Wilkins, 
Sr.,  and  seconded  as  follows:    "  Will  the  Borough  permit 

[  106  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

the  erection  of  a  court  house  in  the  centre  of  the  Public 
Square;  after  some  consideration  the  yeas  and  nays  being 
called  for,  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative  by  a  very  great 
majority."  From  this  evidence  there  hardly  seems  to  be 
any  other  date  than  the  above  possible  for  the  erection  or 
completion  of  the  court  house,  especially  as  it  was  con- 
structed of  brick,  and  building  in  those  days  was  not  prose- 
cuted at  the  speed  of  to-day. 

The  first  court  house  was  for  many  years  the  pride  of  this 
section,  although  it  suffered  much  from  vandalism ;  its  steps 
served  as  a  favored  resort  for  the  ' '  gentlemen  of  the  pave- 
ment "  much  as  does  its  successor  on  Grant's  Hill  to-day. 

Occasionally,  going  from  the  sublime  to  the  ridiculous,  it 
was  used  as  the  village  theatre  where  "  Punch  and  Judy," 
*'  The  Babes  in  the  Woods,"  etc.,  were  exhibited;  feats  on 
tight  and  slack  rope  were  performed,  and  dramas,  farces 
and  comic  operas  were  given,  principally  by  local  talent. 

The  first  jail  stood  on  the  corner  of  Fourth  street  (now 
Fourth  avenue)  and  Market  street.  Between  1817  and 
1820  it  was  replaced  by  a  square  two-story  stone  structure 
situated  on  ''  Jail  alley  "  (now  Decatur  street),  back  of  the 
old  court  house.    The  third  jail  was  built  in  1843. 

Although  the  public  buildings  in  the  early  days  were 
humble  in  appearance,  those  who  officiated  in  them  lent 
dignity  to  the  surroundings  by  virtue  of  their  talents.  The 
opinion  of  Judge  H.  M.  Brackenridge  (son  of  Judge  H.  H. 
Brackenridge,  an  eminent  member  of  the  county  bar  at  that 
time),  that  the  men  who  composed  the  bench  and  bar  of 
that  day  were  * '  few  in  number  but  mighty  in  ability  ' '  can 
be  confirmed  by  investigation.  They  were,  in  fact,  with  few 
exceptions,  men  of  power  and  cultivation.  To  belong  to  the 
legal  profession  in  that  period  of  the  Republic  was  indeed 
an  honor  and  deemed  of  social  consequence.  A  greater  re- 
gard was  then  felt  for  the  learned  profession,  especially 
when  invested  with  the  judicial  ermine.  When  the  judges 
of  Nisi  Prius  and  Oyer  and  Terminer  of  the  old  days  came 
once  a  year  on  the  circuit,  they  were  met  with  no  little  pomp 
and  parade.  They  were  greeted  by  the  leading  gentry  and 
lawyers,  marshaled  by  the  High  Sheriff ;  not  in  coaches,  for 
the  reason  that  coaches  were  not  then  in  use  in  Western 

[  107  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Pennsylvania,  but  upon  horse-back.  Moreover,  it  is  said 
that  when  Justices  McKean  and  Bryan  held  the  first  court 
of  Oyer  and  Terminer  in  Pittsburgh  they  sat  in  scarlet 
robes.  The  judges  did  not,  however,  wear  gowns  or  enor- 
mous wigs,  but  were  carefully  dressed  in  black  coats  and 
knee  breeches  with  cocked  hat,  and,  in  going  to  and  from  tbe 
court,  they  were  preceded  by  the  High  Sheriff  bearing  a 
long  white  wand.  The  procession,  accompanied  by  the  rat- 
tling of  a  drum,  was  given  something  of  a  martial  char- 
acter and  produced  an  imposing  effect  upon  the  populace. 

The  members  of  the  Allegheny  County  Bar,  prominent 
during  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  and  the  beginning  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  were,  with  few  exceptions,  men  with 
college  education.  Alexander  Addison  was  a  graduate  of 
Edinburgh  University;  Judge  Brackenridge,  the  elder,  of 
Princeton;  Thomas  Collins,  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin; 
William  Wilkins,  of  Dickinson  College ;  Henry  Baldwin,  of 
Yale,  and  so  the  list  could  be  extended. 

After  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  and  the  passage  of  the  Ordinance  for  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  North  West  Territory,  in  1787,  there  began  that 
increasing  tide  of  emigration  to  the  west  which  lasted  so 
many  years  and  secured  to  Pittsburgh  a  constantly  expand- 
ing market  for  her  products  and  stores.  The  town  was  still 
small,  but  it  had  its  newspapers,  post-office,  market  places, 
clergymen  and  places  for  worship,  and  provision  had  been 
made  for  an  educational  institution ;  it  was  the  county  seat, 
a  manufacturing  town  in  a  small  way,  and  the  principal 
depot  on  the  great  thoroughfare  from  east  to  west. 

In  the  Spring  of  1788,  when  General  Rufus  Putnam  with 
his  little  band  of  forty-nine  New  England  pioneers  floated 
down  the  Monongahela  in  the  May  Flower  from  Robbstown 
(now  West  Newton) ,  on  their  way  to  take  up  their  purchases 
on  the  Ohio,  at  what  is  now  Marietta,  they  stopped  at  Pitts- 
burgh on  the  third  of  April  to  lay  in  a  supply  of  provisions. 
The  number  of  inhabitants  of  the  town  was  four  or  five 
hundred,  according  to  the  account  of  the  voyage  of  the 
May  Flower  given  by  Dr.  Hildredth  of  Marietta.  Niles 
Register  gives  the  number  of  houses  in  the  year  1786  as 
thirty-eight  and  the  number  of  stores  five,  so,  allowing  for 

[  108  ] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

the  two  years '  growth  from  1786  to  1788,  the  estimate  given 
in  Dr.  Hildreth's  account  appears  reasonable,  and  compels 
us  to  disregard  Judge  Brackenridge's  estimate  of  fifteen 
hundred  made  in  1786. 

From  this  time  the  town  grew  faster.  One  of  the  bene- 
ficial effects  of  the  Whiskey  Insurrection  was,  that  many 
of  the  soldiers  of  General  Lee's  army,  which  had  been 
ordered  to  Pittsburgh  in  November,  1794,  staid  or  came 
back  from  the  Eastern  States  with  their  families  and 
friends  who  had  learned  of  the  advantages  to  settlers  at 
Pittsburgh. 

Routes  of  transportation  too,  were,  in  a  measure,  im- 
proved, though  with  very  little  aid  from  the  State.  The 
Act  of  September,  1785,  appropriating  $10,000.00  for  a 
State  road  from  Miller's  Spring,  in  Cumberland  county,  to 
Pittsburgh  was  practically  all  that  was  done  for  this  end  of 
the  State  until  the  Act  of  1791,  providing  for  the  ex- 
penditure of  $2,500.00  on  the  road  from  Bedford  to  Pitts- 
burgh. During  the  session  of  1791-92  there  was  also 
passed  a  bill  providing  for  a  road  from  Philadelphia  to 
Lancaster.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  road  projected 
in  1787  to  extend  from  the  Schuylkill  to  Lancaster,  and 
from  there  to  the  State  road,  which  began  at  Miller's 
Spring  and  extended  to  Pittsburgh.  The  first  road  to 
Pittsburgh  was  the  old  Braddock  road,  known  as  Nema- 
colin's  or  Gist's  Trail,  until  General  Braddock  passed  over 
it,  on  his  ill-fated  march  of  1755,  when  it  became  known  as 
Braddock 's  Route.  This  road,  or  a  part  of  it,  was  eventually 
abandoned  for  the  more  direct  route  through  Brownsville 
and  Uniontown.  Following  this,  the  southern  route,  via 
Bedford,  and  the  northern  route,  via  Ebensburg  and  the  old 
Kittanning  Trail,  were  opened.  Other  roads  connected 
Pittsburgh  with  the  Lake  Erie  country,  the  Ohio  country, 
and  the  West  Virginia  country.  So  in  the  last  years  of  the 
century,  all  roads,  such  as  they  were,  led  to  or  towards 
Pittsburgh.  The  long  trains  of  from  ten  to  twenty  pack 
horses  slowly  gave  way  to  the  famous  Conestoga  wagons 
as  a  means  of  transportation.  Merchandise  was  carried 
over  the  mountains  by  this  method  to  the  extent  of  over 
sixty  loads  in  a  year  as  early  as  1784,  and  in  1790  there 

[  109  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

were  six  wagons  making  regular  trips  to  Pittsburgh  from 
the  east,  exchanging  their  goods  for  products  of  the  west 
for  the  return  trip.  But  a  great  bulk  of  merchandise  still 
arrived  on  pack  horses  from  Shippensburg,  or  Chambers- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  and  Winchester,  Virginia,  it  having 
been  transferred  from  wagons  at  these  points.  It  took 
about  a  month  to  make  the  trip  all  the  way  by  wagon  over 
the  southern  route  from  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  to  Pitts- 
burgh. Freight  rates  ranged  from  five  to  six  dollars  per 
hundred  pounds,  and  whenever  opportunity  offered,  the 
drivers  were  extortionate  in  their  charges  which  sometimes 
amounted  to  $250.00  per  trip  both  ways.  It  actually  cost, 
as  late  as  1814,  $140.00  to  move  a  ton  of  freight  from  Phila- 
delphia to  Pittsburgh.  The  roads  were  rough  and  dan- 
gerous. Efforts  to  make  them  better  availed  but  little  as 
the  settlers  in  the  western  countr}'^  were  too  poor  to  pay 
taxes  for  turnpikes.  However,  the  conditions  influencing 
Pittsburgh  were  destined  to  evolve  it  rapidly  into  an  in- 
dependent trade  center  and  the  manufacturing  metropolis 
of  the  west.  Counterbalancing  the  difficult  and  costly  trans- 
portation from  the  east  was  the  advantage  of  a  location  at 
the  head  of  an  unparalleled  route  of  water  transportation 
to  the  great  belt  of  territory  to  the  west,  stretching  from 
Canada  on  the  north  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  on  the  south. 
This  constituted  Pittsburgh  a  natural  market  and  point  of 
transshipment.  The  barrier  of  mountains  to  the  east  neces- 
sitated the  establishment  of  manufactories  at  the  place 
where  the  goods  were  needed  for  both  consumption  and 
shipment.  And  there  were  courageous  men  of  farsighted- 
ness who  looked  into  the  future  and  embarked  their  all  in 
the  lines  of  industry  which  have  cliaracterized  Pittsburgh 
for  more  than  a  century.  Some  of  these  men  were  already 
here;  others  came,  one  by  one,  in  the  next  few  years,  and 
they  were  quick  to  see  the  enormous  advantage  of  an  inex- 
haustible and  easily  accessible  supply  of  fuel  to  apply  to 
the  transformation  of  the  raw  materials  of  nature,  and 
they  located  with  confidence  in  the  basis  of  the  bituminous 
coal  formation  of  Western  Pennsylvania.  But  the  task  of 
establishing  manufactories  for  the  heavier  articles  of  com- 
merce was  not  easy,  and  there  was  very  little  manufactur- 

[  110  ] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

ing  west  of  the  mountains  of  any  but  the  simpler  articles 
from  raw  material.  At  the  end  of  the  thirty-four  years, 
from  1758  to  1792,  that  Pittsburgh  had  been  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  English  and  the  Americans  there  were  enu- 
merated, according  to  an  account  in  the  "  American  Mu- 
seum "  of  March,  1792:  "  1  Clock  and  Watch  Maker,  2 
Coopers,  1  Skin  Dreiser  and  Breeches  Maker,  2  Tanners 
and  Curriers,  4  Cabinet  Makers,  2  Hatters,  2  Weavers,  5 
Blacksmiths,  5  Shoemakers,  3  Saddlers,  1  Malster  and 
Brewer,  2  Tinners,  3  Wheelwrights,  1  Stocking-weaver,  1 
Ropemaker,  2  Whitesmiths;  Total,  36  Mechanics,"  and 
"  130  families,"  making  a  population  of  six  hundred  and 
fifty,  allowing  five  to  a  family.  The  ropemaker  mentioned 
was  Hugh  Ross  who  began  this  industry  here  in  1786.  This 
particular  rope-walk  is  also  of  historical  interest,  because 
the  greater  part  of  the  rigging  for  Commodore  Perry 'si 
fleet,  on  Lake  Erie,  in  the  War  of  1812,  was  furnished  by 
this  manufactory.  Among  this  rigging  there  were  two  four 
and  one-half  inch  cables,  each  weighing  about  four  thou- 
sand pounds.  There  is  also  record  of  several  other  indus- 
tries of  that  year  and  the  half  dozen  preceding  years. 
There  were  saw  mills  and  boat  yards  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood.  Daniel  Elliott's  saw  mill  was  in  operation  a 
mile  below  the  point  in  1788.  At  the  same  time  Jacob  Hay- 
maker was  building  boats,  ''  broad  horns,"  etc.,  on  property 
rented  from  John  Ormsby  in  1783  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Monongahela.  John  Perry,  Turnbull  Marmie  &  Co.,  and 
Alexander  Craik  were  also  in  the  boat  building  business. 
Colonel  Stephen  Bayard  built  boats  on  the  Youghiogheny 
at  what  is  now  Elizabeth,  which  was  settled  by  Colonel 
Bayard  in  1786.  Adamson  Tannehill  was  a  vintner;  John 
Ormsby,  a  brick  manufacturer;  Isaac  Craig,  a  distiller; 
Thomas  Chambers,  a  saddler;  Freeman  &  Severen,  cabinet 
makers  and  upholsterers ;  Andrew  Mclntyre,  Windsor  chair 
maker;  Marmaduke  Curtis,  hat  manufacturer;  and  John 
Blackburn,  hat  manufacturer;  etc.,  etc.  In  addition  several 
blacksmiths  and  whitesmiths  plied  their  trade  here ;  George 
McGunigle  and  Thomas  Wylie  were  blacksmiths  and  white- 
smiths; William  Dunning  and  Hugh  Rippey  were  also  ex- 
pert mechanics.    Rippey  was  a  gunsmith  and  Dunning  made 

[  111  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

steel  tools  and  other  implements.  Many  of  the  various 
kinds  of  implements  and  tools,  nails,  etc.,  used  in  the  west- 
ern country  in  those  days  were  made  entirely  by  hand  at 
Pittsburgh.  The  first  nails  made  by  machinery  in  the 
vicinity  of  Pittsburgh  were  made  by  Jacob  Bowman,  in  his 
factory  at  Brownsville,  in  1795.  The  machinery  was  pro- 
pelled by  foot  power.  McGrunigle  was  here  in  1787,  but  it 
is  improbable  that  he  was  the  first  blacksmith  or  ironworker, 
as  there  had  been  need  for  this  class  of  mechanic  here  pre- 
vious to  that  date ;  and  bar  iron  from  Eastern  Pennsylvania 
had  long  been  a  part  of  the  early  traders'  and  merchants' 
stock  in  trade,  although  it  was  very  expensive. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  records  that  the  materials 
used  by  the  various  manufacturers  were,  in  the  main,  either 
obtainable  on  the  ground  or  were  easy  of  transport  from 
the  east.  The  most  important  exception  was  iron.  Owing 
to  the  rapidly  increasing  demand,  this  metal  remained 
expensive  and  search  for  it  on  the  western  slope  of  the 
Alleghenies  had  been  going  on  for  several  years.  The 
earliest  discovery  dates  back  to  the  year  1780  when  Colonel 
AVilliam  Crawford,  surveyor  of  ' '  Yohogania  ' '  county,  Vir- 
ginia, which  included  all  the  northern  and  northeastern 
part  of  Fayette  county,  made  an  entry  in  his  survey  book 
on  July  eleventh,  as  follows :  * '  No.  32  —  State  Warrants : 
Benjamin  Johnson  produced  a  State  warrant  from  the  Land 
Office  for  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  dated  the  twelfth  of 
May,  1780  —  No.  4926.  Sixty  acres  thereof  he  locates  on  a 
big  spring  in  the  Allegheny  and  Laurel  Hills,  on  the  waters 
of  the  Mongalia  —  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  said 
warrant  he  locates  on  land  of  said  hills ;  where  an  old  dead- 
ening and  Sugar  Camp  was  made  by  Mr.  Chr.  Harrison, 
situate  on  the  waters  of  Yohogania,  to  include  a  hank  of 
iron  ore."  This  record  is  still  extant.  Following  this,  ac- 
cording to  Swank's  "  Iron  in  All  Ages,"  was  the  discovery 
of  "  blue  lump  "  iron  ore  by  one  John  Hayden  of  Fayette 
county,  in  1790,  from  which  he  made  on  a  smith's  fire  a 
piece  of  iron  '*  about  as  big  as  a  harrow  tooth."  Taking 
the  sample  on  horseback  to  Philadelphia  he  enlisted  his 
relative,  John  Nicholson  of  that  city,  in  a  scheme  for  build- 
ing a  furnace  and  forge  at  Haydentown  on  George 's  Creek, 

[  112  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CIT^   CHAKTER 

about  seven  miles  south  of  Uniontown.  Mr.  Austin  M. 
HuDgerford  (an  historian  of  Fayette  county)  says,  that  a 
bloomary  was  built  by  this  firm  in  1792,  but  that  they  never 
built  a  furnace.  The  first  furnace  was  that  of  TurubuU 
and  Marmie,  built  in  the  years  1789-90,  together  with  a 
forge  on  Jacob's  Creek,  about  two  miles  from  where  it 
emptied  into  the  Youghiogheny  river.  The  furnace  was 
blown  in  on  the  first  of  November,  1790.  These  works  were 
called  the  Alliance  Iron  Works,  and  they  supplied  Pitts- 
burgh with  quantities  of  iron — -kettles,  skiilets,  dutch 
ovens,  bar  iron,  etc.  There  is,  too,  record  of  four  hundred 
six-pound  shot  ordered  at  these  works  in  January,  1792,  by 
Major  Isaac  Craig  for  use  at  Fort  Pitt,  and  in  General 
Wayne's  Expedition  against  the  Indians  in  the  Ohio 
country.  From  this  time  on,  for  more  than  half  a  century, 
the  counties  of  Center,  Huntingdon,  Fayette,  Westmore- 
land, Somerset,  Cambria,  Indiana,  Beaver,  Blair,  Lawrence, 
Butler,  Armstrong,  Clarion  and  Venango,  furnished  Pitts- 
burgh with  the  bulk  of  the  material  for  iron  manufactures. 
The  earliest  iron  making  in  Allegheny  county,  or  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  Pittsburgh,  began  in  the  year  1792, 
when  a  furnace  was  built  by  George  Anshutz  at  Shady  Side 
at  about  what  is  now  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and  the 
Shady  Side  Station.  Mr.  Anshutz  was  an  Alsacian  by  birth, 
born  November  twenty-eighth,  1753.  His  knowledge  of  the 
manufacturing  of  iron  was  gained  from  his  management  of 
a  foundry  near  Strasburg.  He  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1789,  and,  shortly  after,  to  Pittsburgh. 

The  furnace  at  Shady  Side  was  practically  a  failure,  and 
was  abandoned,  probably  in  1794,  on  account  of  the  high 
cost  of  ore.  The  hills  in  the  neighborhood  contained 
scarcely  any ;  consequently  Anshutz  was  compelled  to  trans- 
port it,  at  a  great  expense,  from  the  Kiskiminetas  region  by 
boat  on  the  Allegheny  river  to  Pittsburgh,  thence  to  the 
furnace  by  wagon.  Also,  some  was  brought  from  the 
vicinity  of  Fort  Ligonier,  Westmoreland  county.  After  the 
abandonment  of  the  Shady  Side  furnace,  Mr.  Anshutz  took 
charge  of  John  Probst's  Westmoreland  furnace  at  Laugh- 
linstown,  remaining  there  a  year  when  he  removed  to  Hunt- 
ingdon county  and  built  Huntingdon  furnace,  in  1796,  in  con- 
8  [  113  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

nection  with  Judge  John  Gloninger  and  Mordecai  Massey. 
In  1808  he  became  the  owner  of  one-fourth  interest  in  the 
business.  Here  he  remained  during  practically  the  balance 
of  his  life.  Retiring  at  eighty,  he  moved  to  Pittsburgh 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years,  February 
twenty-eighth,  1837. 

The  failure  of  Anshutz  at  Shadyside  ended  the  attempts 
to  establish  furnaces  in  Pittsburgh  for  many  years,  the 
manufacturers  being  content  to  accept  ihe  product  of  the 
surrounding  counties.  These  early  discoveries  of  iron  ore 
and  erection  of  furnaces  and  forges,  while  not  in  the  closest 
proximity  to  Pittsburgh,  were,  immediate  enough  to  give  an 
added  impetus  to  the  growth  of  the  town.  Nearly  all  that 
was  manufactured  in  the  busy  Fayette  and  Westmoreland 
counties  region,  from  the  simplest  of  household  utensils  to 
the  large  sugar  kettles  for  the  Louisiana  country,  found  its 
way  to  Pittsburgh  first.  It  was  the  logical  first  market  for 
both  the  manufacturer  and  the  consumer. 

With  all  the  advantages,  both  natural  and  acquired,  which 
have  been  recounted  in  the  foregoing  pages,  it  was  inevita- 
ble that  the  town  should  grow  rapidly,  and  that  the  inhab- 
itants, merchants  and  manufacturers  should'  seek  better 
facilities  for  the  transaction  of  business  and  better  protec- 
tion to  life  and  property;  hence  the  next  step* forward  was 
the  incorporation  of  Pittsburgh  into  a  Borough  by  Act  of 
Assembly,  passed  the  twenty-second  of  April,  1794.  There 
is  evidence  extant  of  an  effort  made  two  years  previous  to 
this  date  for  a  corporation  or  township  government.  In 
the  first  book  of  Minutes  of  the  Court  of  Quarter  Ses- 
sions of  Allegheny  county  is  recorded  "  a  prayer  of  a  peti- 
tion made  by  a  number  of  the  inhabitants-  of  Pittsburgh  " 
for  a  division  of  Pitt  township,  erecting  therefrom  ' '  a  new 
township  called  Pittsburgh  Township."  Colonel  John 
Irwin  and  George  Adams  were  named  for  '  *  Supervisors  of 
Roads,  etc.,"  for  the  ensuing  year.  There* does  not  seem  to 
be  anything  in  addition  to  the  above  that  recounts  the  pre- 
liminaries to  the  Act  of  1794.  The  chief  clauses  of  that  Act 
provided  that:  ''  Whereas,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Pittsburgh,  in  the  county  of  Allegheny,  have,  by  their  Peti- 
tion, Prayed  to  be  Incorporated,  and  that  the  said  town  and 

[  114  ] 


PITTSBURGH  IN  1795. 

1.  Peter  Audrain.  2.  James  Ross.  3.  Ferry  House.  4.  Morrow's  Green  Tree  Tavern.i 
5.  *Adamson  Tannehill.  6.  Samuel  Ewalt.  7.  *Presley  Neville.  8.  John  Scull,  where  the  Pitts-! 
burgh  Gazette,  the  first  newspaper  west  of  the  Allegheny  mountains,  was  printed.  9.  Johni 
Ormsby.  10.  Samuel  Sample's  Tavern,  where  Washington  stopped  in  1770.  11.  *Johii  Neville.? 
12.  *Isaac  Craig.  13.  *Abraham  Kirkpatriek.  14.  *James  O'Hara.  15.  Col.  Wm.  Butler's'i 
widow.  16.  Gen'l  Richard  Butler's  widow.  17.  Wm.  Cecil,  father  of  late  Mrs.  Brewer.  18.  Dr.r 
Nathaniel  Bedford.  19  and  20.  "  Fort  Fayette  "  (should  be  shown  to  include  Penn  street,  them 
only  opened  as  far  up  as  the  fort).  21.  J.  Marie,  afterward  James  Ross.  22.  Alexander  Addison.] 
23.  *John  Gibson,  the  bearer  of  Logan's  speech  to  Lord  Dunmore.  24.  *Ma3or  John  Irwin.) 
25.  The  Redoubt  at  mouth  of  Redoubt  Alley,  built  by  Col.  Wm.  Grant  in  1765.  26.  Judge  Brack-[ 
enridge.  27.  Watson's  Tavern.  28.  Charles  Richards,  and  29.  Benjamin  Richards  (colored). I 
30.  Black  Bear  Tavern.  31.  Presbyterian  Church.  32.  Boat  Yard.  33.  James  Ross.  34.  JameSit 
Robinson.  35.  Gen'l  Wayne's  Stables.  36.  Northeast  corner  Front  street  and  Chancery  lane.E 
residence  of  John  Johnston,  grandfather  of  Wm.  G.  Johnston.  This  was  the  third  brick  housesi 
built  in  the  town.     The  post-offlce  was  here  from  1804  until  1822,  he  being  the  postmaster. 

♦Officers  of  the  Revolution. 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

its  vicinity  as  Hereafter  described  should  be  erected  into  a 
borough ;  And  Whereas,  it  may  contribute  to  the  advantage 
of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  said  town  as  also  to  those  who 
trade  and  Resort  there,  and  to  the  Public  utility  that  nui- 
sances, encroachments  of  all  sorts,  contentions,  annoyances 
and  inconveniences  in  the  said  town  and  its  vicinity  should 
be  prevented,  and  for  promoting  rule,  order  and  good  gov- 
ernment in  the  said  town.  Section  1st.  Be  it  enacted  by  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Commonwealth 
of  Pennsylvania  in  General  Assembly  met,  and  it  is  hereby 
enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  same.  That  the  said  town  of 
Pittsburgh  shall  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  Erected  into  a 
Borough,  which  shall  be  called  the  Borough  of  Pittsburgh, 
Forever,  the  extent  of  which  said  borough  of  Pittsburgh  is 
and  shall  be  comprised  within  the  following  boundaries,  to 
wit:  Beginning  at  the  Point,  or  confluence  of  the  rivers 
Allegheny  and  Monongahela,  and  running  up  the  northeast 
beach  of  the  said  river  Monongahela,  south  fifty-seven  de- 
grees, east  thirty-nine  perches  to  Short  street ;  thence  south 
sixty-four  degrees,  east  two  hundred  and  seven  perches  to 
Grant  street ;  thence  south  seventy-four  degrees,  east  forty- 
nine  perches  to  the  mouth  of  Suke's  Run;  thence  north 
thirty  degrees,  east  one  hundred  and  fifty  perches  to  a  post 
in  Andrew  Watson's  field;  thence  north  nineteen  degrees, 
west  one  hundred  and  fifty  perches  to  the  river  Allegheny ; 
thence  down  the  said  river  Allegheny,  south  seventy-one 
degrees,  west  three  hundred  and  fifteen  perches  to  the  place 
of  beginning. ' ' 

The  town,  about  the  date  of  its  incorporation  as  a  bor- 
ough, stretched  from  the  Point  to  Grant  street  on  the 
Monongahela  side,  and  from  the  Point  to  Washington  street 
(now  Eleventh),  along  the  Allegheny  river.  Penn  and 
Liberty  streets,  parallel  with  the  Allegheny,  were  the  prin- 
cipal thoroughfares,  crossed  by  Marbury,  Hay,  Pitt,  St. 
Clair,  Irwin,  Hand,  Wayne  and  Washington  streets.  Un- 
fortunately these  cross  streets  have  lost  their  historic 
names,  having  been  changed  to  prosaic  numbers  without 
any  practical  advantage,  as  the  numbered  avenues  which 
cross  them  only  create  confusion.  The  names  of  these 
cross  streets,  before  they  were  changed,  were  monuments 

[  115  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

to  men  who  had  been  iiistrumental  in  laying  the  foundations 
of  Pittsburgh.  Marbury  street  was  named  for  Captain 
Joseph  Marburj'',  at  one  time  an  officer  of  tlie  Garrison ;  St. 
Clair,  for  General  Arthur  St.  Clair;  Hand,  after  General 
Edward  Hand  ;  Irwin,  after  Col.  John  Irwin;  Wayne, 
after  General  Anthony  Wayne.  The  streets  running 
i  I  pcjrallel  with  the  Allegheny  were:  Water,  Front,  Sec- 
^  5  ^'^ond,  Third,  Fourth  and  Fifth  streets;  Hammond  alley 
(now  Diamond),  Virgin  alley.  Sixth  street,  Strawberry 
alley.  Seventh  street,  all  of  which  were  crossed  by  West 
street.  Short  street.  Redoubt  alley,  Ferry  street,  Chancery 
lane,  Market  street.  Wood  street.  Cherry  alley,  Smithfield 
and  Grant  streets.  Wood  street  took  its  name  from  Colonel 
George  Woods,  of  Bedford,  who,  as  has  already  been  noted, 
under  the  authority  of  Tench  Francis,  attorney  for  the 
Penns,  surveyed  Pittsburgh  in  1784.  Smithfield  street 
took  its  name  in  honor  of  Devereux  Smith,  an  Indian  trader 
of  prominence  during  the  pioneer  days ;  Grant  street  from 
Major  Grant,  the  leader  of  the  unfortunate  band  of  Scotch 
Highlanders,  cut  to  pieces  by  the  French  and  Indians  in 
1758,  on  the  spot  where  the  court  house  now  stands. 

The  first  election  of  borough  officers  was  determined  by 
the  Act  of  Incorporation  to  take  place  on  the  nineteenth  of 
the  next  May,  and  resulted  in  the  election  of  the  following 
officers :  Two  Chief  Burgesses,  George  Robinson  and 
Josiah  Tannehill ;  High  Constable,  Samuel  Morrison ;  Town 
Clerk,  James  Clow;  Assistant  Burgesses,  Nathaniel  Irish, 
John  Johnston,  George  Adams  and  Nathaniel  Bedford; 
Assessors,  William  Amber  son  and  Abraham  Kirkpatrick; 
Supervisors,  William  Gray  and  John  McMasters.  Two 
days  later,  the  twenty-first,  the  first  regular  meeting  of  the 
newly  elected  Council  took  place,  when  Adamson  Tannehill, 
William  H.  Beaumont  and  Major  Isaac  Craig  were  elected 
Surveyors  or  Regulators  of  the  Borough.  The  same  day 
Nathaniel  Bedford  resigned  as  Assistant  Burgess,  and  John 
McMasters  resigned  as  Supervisor.  Therefore,  another 
election  was  ordered  to  supply  the  vacancies,  and  William 
Dunning  and  James  Henry  were  elected  to  fill  them,  re- 
spectively. Bedford  and  McMasters  were  fined  by  the  court 
for  their  delinquency,  and  as  a  warning  for  the  future,  that 

[  116  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

duly  elected  officers  would  not  be  permitted  to  shirk  their 
duties  to  the  community.  There  was  no  fixed  meeting  place 
for  the  Council.  They  met  at  the  Court  House,  Market 
House  and  at  the  taverns ;  principally  at  the  latter.  In  those 
days  there  were  no  "  executive  sessions;"  it  was  the  habit 
of  the  male  portion  of  the  populace  to  mingle  with  the 
Councilmen,  and  many  measures  passed  were  advocated  by 
citizens  present  at  these  meetings.  According  to  the 
"  Record  "  or  Minute  Book  of  the  borough  for  the  first  few 
years  there  was  a  great  deal  of  laxity  on  the  part  of  the 
borough  officers  in  attending  to  their  duties  in  enforcing  the 
law  and  meeting  with  the  Chief  Burgess  in  pursuance  of  his 
call.  There  is  record  of  repeated  protests  by  him  regarding 
this,  but  protests  did  not  avail  much.  As  a  result  some  of 
the  early  ordinances  were  repealed,  and  new  ones  covering 
the  same  conditions  were  enacted,  or  severe  amendments 
were  added  to  the  existing  ordinances  in  an  endeavor  to 
create  some  respect  for  and  observance  of  the  Coi-pora- 
tion's  power  to  regulate  the  growing  community.  These 
repeated  efforts  brought  about  a  measurable  if  not  an  en- 
tirely satisfactory  effect.  One  of  the  notable  events  of 
Pittsburgh's  first  year  as  a  borough  was  the  establishment 
of  a  second  Market  House  on  the  bank  of  the  Monougahela, 
at  the  foot  of  Market  street.  This  came  as  a  result  of  a 
town  meeting  and  a  popular  vote  held  on  the  nineteenth  of 
July.  In  a  few  months  —  in  October  of  the  same  year  —  it 
became  necessary  to  make  regulations,  which  seem  some- 
what amusing  in  this  century,  for  the  purchase  and  sale  of 
provisions  at  the  market  houses.  The  following  statement 
from  the  Borough  Records  for  the  year  1794  gives  the 
amounts  of  receipts  and  expenditures  for  the  Borough's 
first  year : 

"Amt.  of  Expenditures £175,  s5,  d5 

Borough  Taxes  — 

Commissions  for  Assessing 3,  2,  9 

do           for  Collecting 1,  11,  4 

Township  Taxes  — 

Commissions  for  Assess.  &  Collecting 4,  15,  2 

Cash  paid  Mr.  Bracken 7,  10,  0 

£190,         s4,        d9 
[  117  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Amount  of  receipts  on  both  Taxes £253,        19,  9 

Expenditures   &c 190,  4,  9 


£63,       sl5,        do 
To  William  Dunning's  Bill  rendered.     £1,    18,    7 
Jno  Gormley,  do  do     .       1,    18,    0—     3,        16,  7 


£59,       sl8,        d5 

"  Agreeable  to  the  above  Statement  of  Receipts  and  Expenditures  for 
the  year  1794,  Made  by  James  Henry,  then  Town  Clerk,  as  also  other 
Documents  laid  before  us,  there  appears  to  be  due  to  the  Borough,  a 
Ballance  of  £59,  18,  5  Lying  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Wm.  Gray  late 
Supervisor. 

"  Examined  and  passed 

"  2nd  September  1798 

"  Andr.  Mclntire 

late  Burgess 
"  J.  G.  Heron,  Assistant 
"  Jos.  Asheton  Assistant  B. 
"Wm.  McMillan  Ast.      "    " 

Settlements  in  the  vicinity  of  Pittsburgh  began  to  in- 
crease. McKeesport  was  perhaps  the  most  important.  It 
was  laid  out  by  John  McKee  in  the  year  Pittsburgh  became 
a  borough.  He  established  a  brewery,  tanyard,  boatyard 
and  two  stores,  and  for  many  years  the  prediction  was  made 
by  the  McKeesporters  that  Pittsburgh  would  eventually  be 
crowded  out  of  her  position  as  metropolis  of  the  West,  for 
the  reason  that  McKeesport  was  twelve  miles  nearer  Phila- 
delphia. According  to  Neville  B.  Craig,  in  his  History  of 
Pittsburgh,  the  appearance  of  Pittsburgh  at  close  range  was 
anything  but  prepossessing  at  this  time,  and  the  citizens  of 
McKeesport  may  be  pardoned  for  their  vanity.  Some  of 
the  ordinances  which  were  difficult,  almost  impossible  to 
enforce,  were  for  the  prohibition  of  hogs  and  cattle  roaming 
the  streets.  Craig  states:  "  The  ramparts  of  Fort  Pitt 
were  still  standing,  and  a  portion  of  the  officers '  quarters,  a 
substantial  brick  building,  was  used  as  a  malt-house.  The 
gates  were  gone,  and  the  brick  wall,  called  the  revetment, 
which  supported  two  of  the  ramparts  facing  toward  the 
town,  and  against  which  the  officers  and  soldiers  used  to 
play  ball,  were  gone,  so  that  the  earth  all  around  had  as- 
sumed the  natural  slope.  Outside  the  Fort,  on  the  side  next 
the  Allegheny  river,  was  a  large,  deep  pond,  the  frequent 

[  118  ] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

resort  of  wild  ducks.  Along  the  south  side  of  Liberty- 
street,  and  extending  from  Diamond  alley  to  the  foot  of 
Fourth  street  (now  Fourth  avenue),  was  another  pond, 
from  which  a  deep  ditch  led  the  water  into  a  brick  arch- 
way, leading  from  Front  street  (now  First  avenue),  just 
below  Redoubt  alley,  into  the  Monongahela.  *  *  *  South  of 
Market  street,  just  below  Front  and  Water  streets,  was  an- 
other pond,  and  still  another  in  the  square  in  front  of  the 
St.  Charles  Hotel.  Finally  there  was  Hogg's  Pond  extend- 
ing along  the  north  side  of  Grant's  Hill  from  Fourth  street 
(avenue)  up  to  Seventh.  From  this  last  there  was  a  low, 
ugly  drain,  extending  down  nearly  parallel  to  Wood  street, 
to  the  river.  A  stone  bridge  was  built  across  this  gully  in 
Front  street  (First  avenue),  probably  soon  after  the  bor- 
ough was  incorporated.  *  *  *  Nothing  could  be  less 
pleasing  to  the  eye  than  the  rugged,  irregular  bank.  From 
the  bridge  (Smithfield  street),  down  to  Wood  street,  the 
distance  from  the  lots  to  the  break  of  the  bank  was  from 
sixty  to  seventy  feet.  Wood  street  was  impassable  when 
the  river  was  moderately  high.  From  Wood  to  Market,  the 
distance  from  the  lots  at  the  break  of  the  bank  was  fifty  or 
sixty  feet.  At  Market  street  there  was  a  deep  gully  worn, 
into  the  bank,  so  that  a  wagon  could  barely  pass  along.  At 
the  mouth  of  Chancery  lane  there  was  another  chasm  in  the 
bank.  *  *  *  At  the  mouth  of  Ferry  street  there  was  a 
similar  contraction  of  the  way.  *  *  *  ^t  Redoubt 
alley  there  was  quite  a  steep  and  stony  descent  down  to  the 
level  of  the  covered  archway  of  which  I  have  before  spoken. 
Below  that  archway  the  space  between  the  lots  and  the 
break  of  the  bank,  nowhere  exceeded  twenty  feet,  and  be- 
tween Short  and  West  streets  it  varied  from  fifteen  feet  to 
five  feet." 

By  this  time  (1794),  post-offices  had  been  established  at 
Wheeling,  Marietta  and  Gallipolis,  and  to  insure  the  de- 
livery of  mail  to  the  several  settlements  to  the  West  and 
South,  unhindered  by  the  hostile  Indians  of  the  country,  a 
line  of  mail  boats  was  established  from  Wheeling  to  Lime- 
stone. From  Pittsburgh  to  Wheeling,  post  horses  were  em- 
ployed ;  the  post-rider  connecting  at  Wheeling  with  the  boat 
which  plied  between  that  place  and  Marietta.    At  Marietta 

[  119  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

the  mail  was  changed  to  a  second  boat  which  plied  between 
Marietta  and  Gallipolis,  connecting  at  the  latter  place  with 
a  third  boat  which  made  the  trip  from  Gallipolis  to  Lime- 
stone and  return.  These  boats  were  about  twenty-four  feet 
in  length,  each  manned  with  five  men,  four  oarsmen  and  a 
pilot.  They  were  well  armed,  for  General  Wayne  had  not 
yet  subdued  the  Indians  in  the  country  to  the  west  of  Pitts- 
burgh, though  it  was  accomplished  that  same  year,  and  the 
mails  were  carried  in  safety,  only  one  attack  having  been 
made  on  them  in  the  four  years  of  their  employment.  Other 
post-offices  were  established  in  the  settlements  of  the  Ohio 
country  after  Wayne's  subjugation  of  the  hostile  Indians, 
and  in  the  October  of  1798  a  mail  line  was  opened  to  Zanes- 
ville  over  a  route  including  Cannonsburg,  Washington  and 
Wheeling.  Also,  in  the  January  of  the  year  Pittsburgh 
was  incorporated  as  a  borough,  communication  by  water 
with  Cincinnati  was  inaugurated.  At  first  the  boats  arrived 
Itut  once  a  month ;  later  more  boats  were  added  to  the  line 
and  passengers  could  embark  weekly.  These  boats  were 
well  armed  and  protected  each  with  six  one  pounders  and 
rifles.  The  cabins,  if  they  could  be  so  called,  were  bullet 
proof  and  had  rifle  port  holes. 

Closely  following  the  establishment  of  the  iron  business 
in  the  country  west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains  and,  par- 
ticularly, at  Pittsburgh,  comes  the  lumber  and  glass  busi- 
ness. Curiously  enough,  the  lumber  business  began  with  the 
famous  Seneca  Chief,  C ornplanter ,  or  Gyantawachia.  Major 
Isaac  Craig,  having  been  informed  by  Major  Thomas  But- 
ler, the  Commandant  at  Franklin,  in  December  of  1795,  that 
Cornplanter  had  a  large  stock  of  sawed  lumber  on  hand, 
despatched  an  agent  to  purchase  it  for  use  and  sale  in 
Pittsburgh.  This  marked  the  beginning  of  the  Allegheny 
river  lumber  trade  of  which  more  will  be  said  further  on. 

Pittsburgh  perhaps  owed  more  to  General  James  O'Hara 
for  her  prestige  as  a  commercial  and  manufacturing  center 
in  these  pioneer  days  than  to  any  other  one  man.  General 
O'Hara  was  a  trader  and  a  contractor  on  a  large  scale. 
His  were  long  range  calculations.  In  his  business  relations 
with  the  government  in  supplying  the  garrison  at  Oswego 
on  Lake  Ontario  with  provisions,  he  had  in  mind  the  supply- 

[  120  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

ing  of  Pittsburgh  with  salt  from  tlie  Onondaga  salt  works  at 
Salina,  now  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  Why  return  to  Pittsburgh 
with  transports  unladened?  He,  accordingly,  reserved  in 
his  contract  with  the  government,  the  barrels  in  which  he 
packed  provisions  for  the  garrison.  These  he  brought  back 
to  Pittsburgh  packed  with  salt.    His  successful  venture  in 

1796,  in  placing  this  commodity  on  the  Pittsburgh  market 
at  less  than  the  price  of  Baltimore  salt,  notwithstanding 
the  several  transshipments  from  wagons  to  boats  and  vice 
versa,  over  a  distance  of  five  hundred  miles,  had  won  for 
him  a  deserved  reputation  for  sagacity  and  courage.  He 
soon  had  two  vessels  built  for  this  business,  one  on  Lake 
Ontario  and  one  on  Lake  Erie,  and  boats  on  the  Allegheny. 
Other  means  of  transportation  were  also  improved,  and 
salt  was  sold  in  Pittsburgh  for  four  dollars  instead  of  eight 
dollars  per  bushel.  Until  salt  from  the  Kanawha  works 
came  into  competition  in  1810,  General  O'Hara's  business  in 
this  line  flourished.  It  gradually  began  to  wane,  and,  during 
the  War  of  1812,  it  practically  ceased. 

Of  greater  interest  and  importance  is  the  history  of  the 
first  manufacture  of  glass  west  of  the  Alleghenies.  The 
credit  of  this  hazardous  undertaking,  altliough  it  has  been 
disputed,  unquestionably  belongs  also  to  General  O'Hara 
and  his  associate.  Major  Isaac  Craig.  The  first  steps  were 
taken  in  1796  when  they  persuaded  William  Eichbaum, 
a  German  glass  worker,  to  leave  the  management  of  the 
Schuylkill  Glass  Works  near  Philadelphia  and  take  charge 
of  the  erection  and  operation  of  a  glass  house  in  Pittsburgh. 
After  several  delays  and  a  fruitless  search  for  a  vein  of 
coal  of  suitable  thickness,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Alle- 
gheny, they  purchased  from  Bphriam  Jones,  in  the  Spring  of 

1797,  a  house  and  lot  on  the  south  side  of  the  Monongahela, 
near  where  the  Point  Bridge  now  is;  and  also  two  adjoining 
lots  from  Ephriam  Blaine.  The  erection  of  the  house  was 
soon  completed,  and  the  manufacturing  of  green  glass  com- 
menced. Additional  credit  is  due  Messrs.  O'Hara  and 
Craig  for  their  progressiveness  in  using  coal  as  fuel;  theirs 
being  the  first  glass  works  in  America  to  employ  it.  An 
interesting  incident  is  related  in  connection  with  this  glass 
house  in  the  first  years  of  its  existence:     "  In  the  fall  of 

[  121  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

1800  the  '  commissioner  of  the  city  of  Washington,'  then 
just  made  the  seat  of  government,  applied  to  Craig  and 
O'Hara  to  make  for  the  public  buildings  some  glass  of 
larger  sizes  than  had  ever  been  produced  in  this  country; 
but  the  attempt  was  uncuscessful.  Glass  of  the  size  re- 
quired, to  the  extent  of  some  four  hundred  square  feet,  was 
made  of  a  transparency  tolerably  good,  but  it  was  too  un- 
even for  the  purpose,-  or  was  spoiled  in  flattening,  and  the 
glass  required  was  obtained  from  England."  It  is  a 
far  cry  from  this  failure  to  make  what  would  now  be  termed 
an  ordinary  window  sheet,  to  the-mammoth  plates  covering 
the  entire  front  of  some  of  the  modern  business  houses. 
The  second  glass  house  erected  in  this  vicinity  was  that  of 
Denny  and  Beelen,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Ohio,  in  what  is 
now  Manchester,  Allegheny.  These  works  erected  in  1800, 
were  known  as  the  ''  Ohio  Works,"  and  from  them  the  riffle 
of  the  Ohio,  known  as  Glass  House  Riffle,  takes  its  name. 
From  that  time  on,  the  manufacturers  of  glass  multiplied 
until  to-day  Pittsburgh  is  the  leading  glass  market  of  the 
world.  O'Hara  and  Craig's  was  an  eight-pot  furnace  and 
turned  out  three  boxes  or  about  three  hundred  square  feet 
of  window  glass  per  day.  Bottles  and  other  **  hollow 
ware,"  were  also  made.  Apropos  of  the  beginning  of  this 
industry  is  an  interesting  memorandum  of  General 
O'Hara 's  which  came  to  light  after  his  death.  In  his  own 
writing  he  stated :  ' '  To-day  we  made  the  first  bottle  at  a 
cost  of  $30,000.00." 

After  seven  years  of  partnership  0  'Hara  and  Craig  dis- 
solved, it  was  said,  because  Major  Craig's  relatives  feared 
ultimate  financial  loss.  It  is  true  their  enterprise  was  at- 
tended with  difficulties  for  years,  both  in  obtaining  material, 
some  of  which  had  to  be  transported  from  New  Jersey,  and 
in  the  control  of  their  workmen ;  but  it  seems  hardly  a  suf- 
ficient reason  for  Major  Craig's  withdrawal.  Be  that  as  it 
may,  to  both  must  be  given,  in  equal  portion,  the  honor  of 
establishing  this  pioneer  manufactory  and  succoring  it  dur- 
ing the  first  seven  years  of  its  precarious  existence.  Fur- 
ther mention  of  other  branches  of  this  industry  will  be 
found  in  the  succeeding  pages. 

A  less  hazardous  industry  which  received  a  fresh  im- 

[  122  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

petus  at  about  the  time  of  the  establishment  of  the  glass 
industry  was  that  of  boat  building.  Owing  to  the  strained 
condition  of  affairs  between  tliis  country  and  France,  Con- 
gress ordered,  in  1797,  two  vessels  to  be  built  in  Pittsburgh 
for  use  on  the  lower  Mississippi  They  were  named  the 
President  Adams  and  the  Senator  Ross.  The  first  was 
launched  the  nineteenth  day  of  May,  1798,  and  the  second 
in  the  Spring  of  1799.  Subsequent  to  this,  ships,  brigs  and 
schooners  were  built  here  in  great  number  in  the  ship- 
yards of  Tarascon  Brothers,  James  Berthoud  &  Co.,  estab- 
lished in  1800.  They  also  conducted  a  ship  chandlery  and 
general  merchandise  business  in  connection  with  their  build- 
ing business.  Ships  were  also  built  at  Elizabeth,  the  Monon- 
gahela  Farmer  being  the  first,  built  in  1800.  She  was  owned 
by  the  builders  and  farmers  of  the  vicinity,  and  was  first 
sent  to  New  York  via  New  Orleans  loaded  with  flour, 
whiskey,  deer  skins,  etc.  In  1803  the  Ann  Jane  was 
launched  at  the  same  point  and  sent  out  with  a  similar 
cargo.  The  first  ships  built  by  Tarascon  Brothers,  James 
Berthoud  &  Co.  were,  the  schooner  Amity,  one  hundred  and 
twenty  tons,  and  the  ship  Pittsburg,  two  hundred  and  fifty 
tons,  completed  in  1801.  Following  these  were,  the  brig 
Nanina,  two  hundred  and  fifty  tons;  the  Louisiana,  three 
hundred  tons ;  and  the  Western  Trader,  four  hundred  tons, 
all  famous  in  the  early  days.  The  following  anecdote  of  a 
ship  built  at  Pittsburgh  and  clearing  from  that  port  for 
Leghorn  was  related  by  Henry  Clay,  in  Congress :  When 
the  ship  arrived  at  the  latter  port  the  Custom  House  official 
would  not  credit  her  papers  and  threatened  to  confiscate 
the  vessel  on  the  ground  that  there  was  no  such  port  as 
Pittsburgh,  which  was  prima  facie  evidence  the  clearance 
papers  were  forged.  It  is  related  that ' '  the  trembling  cap- 
tain laid  before  the  officer  the  map  of  the  United  States, 
directed  him  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  pointed  out  the  mouth 
of  the  Mississippi,  led  him  a  thousand  miles  up  it  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio,  and  thence  another  thousand  to  Pitts- 
burgh ;  '  There,  Sir,  is  the  port  whence  my  vessel  cleared 
out.'  The  astonished  officer,  before  he  had  seen  the  map, 
would  as  readily  have  believed  that  this  vessel  had  been 
navigated  from  the  moon." 

[  123  1 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

With  the  increase  in  the  industries  of  Pittsburgh  came, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  the  multiplication  and  enlargement 
of  commercial  enterprises ;  all  of  which  added  to  her  prestige 
abroad.  There  are  several  ordinances  which  were  enacted 
during  the  first  years  of  Pittsburgh  as  a  borough  that  indi- 
cate progress.  One  or  two  of  these  are  deserving  of  special 
mention  for  they  fix  an  approximate  date  of  the  beginning 
of  the  fire  department.  On  the  sixteenth  day  of  April, 
1797,  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  housekeepers  met  at 
the  house  of  John  Reed  and  resolved,  ''  that  a  tax  be  laid 
to  raise  as  much  money  as  will  purchase  fiJty  fire  buckets 
"  *  *  the  buckets  to  be  marked  with  the  letters  B.  P.  and 
numbered  from  No.  one  to  fifty."  At  a  subsequent  meeting 
held  at  the  same  place  on  the  thirtieth  of  January,  1798, 
"  it  was  ruled  and  ordained  that  the  fire  engine  now  the 
property  of  the  present  fire  company  of  Pittsburgh  will  be 
paid  for  by  the  borough  in  the  following  manner,  viz. :  A 
tax  eaqual  to  the  first  cost  and  Carriage  of  the  Engine  shall 
be  laid  and  Collected  from  the  Freeholders  and  house- 
keepers &  other  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Borough  in  two 
Eaqual  yearly  taxes,  when  Collected  the  amount  of  each 
Subscriber  for  the  purchase  of  the  Engine  shall  be  refunded 
to  them,  after  which  payments  the  Engine  shall  be  and 
remain  the  property  of  the  borough  of  Pittsburgh.  *  *  * 
And  it  is  further  ordained  that  the  Chief  Burgess  and 
Assistant  Burgess  shall  have  the  direction  of  the  Engine 
During  their  continuance  in  office. ' '  Another  ordinance  en- 
acted the  twenty-eighth  of  June,  1798,  directed  the  Bur- 
gesses "  to  divide  the  Borough  into  two  or  more  Com- 
panies for  working  and  Keeping  the  Fire  Engine  in  order, ' ' 
and  to  appoint  officers  for  said  Companies  to  serve  for  one 
year.  It  was  consequently  agreed,  at  a  meeting  held  the 
thirteenth  day  of  July,  that  the  town  should  be  divided  into 
three  districts,  as  follows:  The  inhabitants  on  the  lower 
side  of  Market  street  as  far  as  Fourth  street,  to  compose 
the  first  company ;  those  on  the  upper  side  of  Market  street, 
bounded  by  Fourth  street,  to  form  the  second  company ;  the 
third  to  include  all  north  of  Fourth  street.  It  was  also 
agreed  that  the  following  persons  should  act  as  officers  of 
said  companies  for  one  year,  viz. :    For  the  first  company, 

[  124  ] 


BEFOEE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

Joim  Scull,  President;  Directors,  John  Johnson,  Jeremiah 
Barker,  William  Irwin,  George  Adams,  Oliver  Ormsby, 
Isaac  Craig-  Second  company,  Adamson  Tannehill,  Presi- 
dent; Directors,  Thomas  Bracken,  William  Mason,  George 
Robinson,  Isaac  Gregg,  Samuel  McCord,  Alexander  Sholl. 
Third  company,  Nathaniel  Irish,  President;  Directors,  John 
Irwin,  William  Gray,  William  Dunning,  William  McMullin, 
Jeremiah  Sturgeon,  Robert  Griffin. 

After  a  fire  it  was  customary  for  the  neighbors  to  make 
up  the  loss  and  assist  in  repairing  the  damages.  This  was 
before  the  time  of  protection  by  insurance  companies. 

Another  evidence  of  progress  is  shown  by  the  steps  taken 
to  raise  money  for  the  erection  of  piers,  to  protect  banks 
of  the  Allegheny  and  Monongahela  rivers  from  the  en- 
croachments of  the  high  currents  which  were  constantly 
washing  them  away.  In  June,  1798,  this  lottery  was  adver- 
tised : 

''A  Lottery. 

^'  For  raising  the  sum  of  $12,000  to  be  applied  in  erecting 
piers  to  defend  the  banks  of  the  rivers  Allegheny  and 
Monongahela,  within  the  borough  of  Pittsburgh,  autliorized 
by  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania : 

**  The  scheme  of  the  first  class  is  as  follows: 

1  Prize   of   $1,000.00  15  Prizes  of  $100.00 

1  "        "         800.00 

2  Prizes  "         500.00 

3  "        "         400.00 
5      "        "         300.00 

10      "        "         200.00 

1  Prize  of  $2,000.00  (last  drawn  lot). 
1     "         "      1,000.00  (second  last  drawn). 
1     "         "         500.00  (third  last  drawn). 
2210    Prizes    and    3790   blanks;    6000    tickets    at  $5.00  each;   total, 
$30,000.00. 

"All  prizes  subject  to  a  deduction  of  15  per  cent.  The 
drawing  of  the  first  class  to  commence  as  soon  as  the  tickets 
are  sold,  and  the  prizes  to  be  discharged  on  the  completion 
of  the  drawing,  which  it  is  hoped  will  be  in  October  next. 
*     *     *     Tickets  to  be  had  of  the  managers  in  Pittsburgh ; 

[  125  ] 


20 

a 

a 

50.00 

50 

a 

a 

20.00 

100 

a 

li 

15,00 

2000 

a 

i( 

7.00 

THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

of  Thomas  Hamilton,  in  Greensburgh;   and   of  General 

Douglass  in  Uniontown. 

'*  Pressley  Neville,  James  Brown, 

'  *  George  Stevenson,  George  Shiras, 

**  John  Scull,  Jeremiah  Barker, 

*'  Isaac  Craig,  Nathaniel  Irish, 
*'  Nathaniel  Bedford,  Mangers." 

On  August  first,  1801,  an  ordinance  was  passed  to  the 
effect  "  that  pathways  of  brick,  stone  or  gravel,  bounded 
by  curbstones  of  square  pieces  of  timber  should  be  con- 
structed." Evident^  this  was  not  accomplished  as  on  the 
twenty-third  day  of  July,  1802,  the  following  "  ordinance 
respecting  foot-ways  "  appeared  in  the  Gazette: 

''An  Ordinance  Respecting  Foot- ways: 

''  Be  it  ordained  by  the  Burgesses,  free  holders  and  in- 
habitants of  the  Borough  of  Pittsburgh,  in  the  County  of 
Allegheny,  in  Town  Meeting  assembled.  That  foot  ways  of 
brick,  stone  or  gravel,  bounded  by  curb  stones,  or  by  squared 
pieces  of  timber,  shall  be  made  under  the  direction  of  the 
Regulators,  in  the  following  streets,  viz. : 

' '  Market  Street,  both  sides,  from  Water  Street,  to  Fifth 
Street. 

''  Water  Street,  from  Wood  Street  to  Redoubt  Alley. 

"  Front  Street,  north  side,  from  Wood  Street  to  Ferry 
Street. 

*'  Second  Street,  south  side,  from  Wood  Street  to  Ferry 
Street,  and  north  side,  from  Wood  Street  to  Redoubt  Alley. 

''  Third  Street,  north  side,  from  Wood  Street  to  Ferry 
Street. 

' '  Fourth  Street,  both  sides,  from  Smithfield  Street  to  the 
alley  in  which  the  Jail  is  built. 

*'  Fifth  Street,  south  side,  from  Wood  Street  to  Market 
Street. 

"  Wood  Street,  east  side,  from  Second  Street  to  Virgin 
Alley,  and  west  side  from  Water  Street  to  Fifth  Street. 

**And  it  is  further  ordained.  That,  if  any  person,  or  per- 
sons, owning  a  lot  or  lots,  bounded  by  either  of  the  streets 
aforesaid,  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  make,  or  cause  to  be 

[  126  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

made,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  January,  1803,  a  foot- 
way to  extend  along  the  bounds  of  his  or  their  lot  or  lots  as 
aforesaid,  that  then  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the 
supervisors  to  cause  a  foot-way  to  be  made  of  gravel, 
bounded  by  squared  pieces  of  timber,  to  extend  along  the 
bounds  aforesaid,  at  the  proper  charge  and  expense  of  the 
owner  of  such  lot  or  lots  who  may  so  neglect  or  refuse. 
The  money  to  be  recovered  from  such  owners  in  such  cases 
in  the  same  manner  as  Borough  taxes  have  been  usually 
collected  or  recovered. 

*'And  be  it  further  ordained.  That,  if  any  person  shall 
attempt,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  obstruct  the  execution  of 
this  Ordinance,  the  person  so  offending,  shall  forfeit  and 
pay  for  every  such  offence  a  fine  not  exceeding  twenty  dol- 
lars with  the  costs  of  prosecution. 

"And  be  it  further  ordained,  That  the  Regulators  be  in- 
structed to  pitch  and  regulate  the  streets  of  this  Borough, 
and  that  each  Regulator  be  allowed  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  per  day  for  every  day  that  they  shall  be  employed  on 
this  business. 

^'  George   Stevenson", 

''Attest:  '^  Chief  Burgess. 

''  William  Woods, 

''  Town  Clerk." 

It  was  stated  that,  from  the  year  1794  to  1801,  taxes 
amounting  to  $3,916.94  had  been  levied  for  street  improve- 
ments, etc.,  but  when  it  is  considered  that  the  entire  city 
tax,  twelve  years  later,  was  only  $2,774.77,  it  will  be  realized 
that  the  street  appropriation  for  this  period  was  very  large 
in  proportion. 

As  the  result  of  a  resolution  passed  by  the  Town  Council. 
August  ninth,  1802,  the  Burgesses  and  assistants  proceeded 
to  view  such  parts  of  the  Borough  "  as  were  presumed  to 
immediately  require  a  more  effectual  supply  of  water,"  and 
it  was  decided  that  four  wells  with  pumps  were  necessary 
on  Market  street,  one  to  be  between  First  and  Second 
streets,  one  between  Second  and  Third,  one  between  Third 
and  Fourth,  and  one  at  the  "  Court  House,"  the  latter  to 
be  built  at  the  expense  of  the  county.    It  was  estimated  that 

[  127  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

the  sinking  and  walling  each  well  to  a  depth  of  forty-seven 
feet  would  amount  to  $120.00,  exclusive  of  the  pump.  To 
defray  the  expense,  a  tax  of  $497.96  was  levied,  but  in  De- 
cember of  the  same  year,  the  Collector  complained  that  only 
$170.00  had  been  collected,  although  two  of  the  wells  and 
pumps  were  completed ;  that  he  had  frequently  called  on  all 
the  taxable  inhabitants  of  the  Borough,  a  number  of  wliom 
refused  to  pay.  The  Burgesses,  therefore,  were  under  the 
necessity  of  reminding  the  citizens  "  that  Section  20th  of 
the  Act  of  Incorporation  points  out  a  legal  mode  of  pro- 
cedure in  such  cases,  but  the  Burgesses  flatter  themselves 
that  in  collecting  what  remains  due  of  this  tax  that  it  will 
not  be  necessary  to  resort  to  compulsive  means." 

The  census  of  1800  credits  Pittsburgh  with  a  population 
of  1,565,  which  is  doubtless  correct,  though  later  authori- 
ties, John  Melish's  Travels  in  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica, published  in  1812,  and  the  Directory,  of  1815,  give  the 
number  for  the  year  1801  as  2,400.  The  latter  figure  proba- 
bly included  the  suburban  population.  The  number  of 
houses  in  the  town  at  this  time  was  said  to  have  been  about 
four  hundred. 

The  first  years  of  the  nineteenth  century  in  the  history  of 
Pittsburgh  were  marked  with  many  events  worthy  of  rec- 
ord. To  quote  a  well-worn  phrase, ' '  party  spirit  ran  high  " 
in  these  times  at  Pittsburgh,  as  elsewhere.  The  Gazette, 
which  had  been  enlarged  to  a  royal  sheet  in  1798,  was  strong 
for  the  Administration,  and  while  endeavoring  to  be  im- 
I)artial,  it  bitterly  resented  the  attacks  on  the  leaders  of 
the  Revolution,  who  were  now  succoring  the  new  national 
government.  The  eminent  Judge  Brackenridge  was  Anti- 
Federal  with  many  strong  supporters.  It  is  related  that  he 
became  ''  involved  in  a  personal  difference  growing  out  of 
politics,  with  the  presiding  Judge  of  the  Court  in  which  he 
practiced,  and  fearful  that  he  might  be  provoked  to  do  some- 
thing which  might  be  taken  advantage  of,  he  resolved  to  re- 
tire from  practice."  Thenceforth,  he  became  a  formidable 
politician  and,  in  1800,  established  the  second  newspaper  of 
Pittsburgh,  the  Tree  of  Liberty,  with  a  motto  from  the 
Scriptures:  ''And  the  leaves  of  the  tree  were  for  the  heal- 
ing of  the  nations."    The  controversies  which  ensued  were 

[  128  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHAETER 

extremely  bitter,  and,  as  a  result,  suits  for  libel  were  insti- 
tuted on  both  sides.  The  weight  of  public  opinion  was  evi- 
dently on  the  side  of  Mr.  Scull  and  the  Gazette,  for  in  the 
latter  part  of  1804,  the  Tree  of  Liberty  was  discontinued. 

In  the  year  1801,  Dr.  Hugh  Scott  was  appointed  postmas- 
ter to  succeed  George  Adams.  The  post-office  again  fol- 
lowed the  direction  of  the  business  growth  and,  during  Dr. 
Scott's  incumbency,  was  located  on  the  corner  of  Third 
street  (now  Third  avenue)  and  Market  street.  In  this  year 
a  new  contract  for  carrying  the  mail  was  let,  the  details  of 
which  were  published  in  the  Gazette  of  October  ninth:  "A 
new  contract  for  carrying  the  Mail  of  the  United  States 
from  Chambersburg,  by  McConnellsburg,  Bedford,  Som- 
erset, Greensburg,  Pittsburg  and  Canonsburg  to  Washing- 
ton, Pa.,  twice  a  week,  came  into  operation  on  the  first 
instant.  By  this  contract  the  mail  will  leave  Chambersburg 
every  Tuesday  and  Saturday,  and  arrive  at  Washington 
every  Friday  and  Tuesday.  The  contractors,  Josiah  Espy, 
of  Bedford,  and  Jacob  Graft,  of  Somerset,  have  made  ar- 
rangements for  forwarding  the  mail,  with  as  much  care  and 
punctuality  as  possible,  but,  should  any  unforeseen  acci- 
dents happen  at  any  time,  tending  to  delay  the  progress  of 
it,  any  assistance  obligingly  afforded  will  be  thankfully 
acknowledged  and  compensated  for  by  the  contractors.'* 
Dr.  Scott  filled  the  office  until  his  death  in  1804,  at  which 
time  John  Johnson  became  postmaster.  He  removed  the 
office  to  his  residence  on  Front  street,  corner  of  Chancery 
Lane.  Mr.  Johnson  filled  the  position  until  1822,  a  period 
of  eighteen  years. 

Manufacturing  increased  and  new  industries  were  estab- 
lished from  year  to  year.  The  merchants,  manufacturers 
and  citizens  of  Western  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  turned 
their  earnest  attention  to  building  up  trade  with  the  west 
and  south.  The  aim  of  the  Western  Pennsylvanian  of  this 
period  was  to  make  Pittsburgh  the  manufacturing  and  trade 
center  of  all  the  great  west,  to  make  it  independent  of  the 
east  as  far  as  possible.  The  value  of  the  goods  manufac- 
tured in  Pittsgurgh  for  the  year  1803  amounted  to 
$350,000.00.  The  first  iron  foundr}^  established  in  Pitts- 
burgh was  built  this  year  by  Joseph  McClurg,  Joseph  Smith 

9  [  129  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

and  John  Gormly,  and  casting  of  iron  was  begun  the  next 
year.  The  site  of  this  foundry  known  as  the  Pittsburgh 
I'oundry,  was  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Fifth  avenue  and 
Smithfield  street  where  the  Park  Building  now  stands. 
There  are  many  conflicting  dates  as  to  the  establishment  of 
this  industry,  varying  from  1803  to  1806.  After  careful  re- 
search it  seems  reasonable  to  state  that  the  enterprise  was 
projected  in  1803,  partly  finished  in  1804,  when  casting  was 
done  limitedly,  and  completed  in  1805,  or  early  in  1806.  In 
the  Commonwealth  of  February  twelfth,  Mr.  McClurg  ad- 
vertised that  ''  the  Pittsburgh  Foundry  is  now  complete." 
This  foundry  achieved  fame  in  the  War  of  1812  as  a  source 
of  supply  for  government  cannon,  howitzers,  shells  and 
balls;  Commodore  Perry's  Lake  Erie  fleet  was  supplied  in 
part  from  here,  as  was  the  army  of  General  Jackson  at  New 
Orleans. 

On  the  fifth  of  March,  1804,  an  Act  of  the  Assembly  for 
the  reincorporation  of  the  Borough  of  Pittsburgh  was  ap- 
proved. The  inhabitants  petitioned  for  an  alteration  in  the 
law  incorporating  the  original  Borough  of  Pittsburgh,  on 
the  ground  that  it  was  ' '  insufficient  to  promote  conveniency, 
good  order  and  public  utility."  The  boundaries  of  the 
Borough  were  left  practically  unaltered,  and  provision  was 
made  for  an  annual  election  of  one  Burgess  instead  of  two, 
a  Town  Council  of  thirteen  and  a  Collector  of  Taxes.  The 
Burgess  and  Town  Council  had  power  to  acquire  and  hold 
in  fee  simple  and  otherwise,  goods,  chattels,  lands,  fran- 
chises and  the  like  to  the  amount  of  $5,000.00  annually,  and 
to  dispose  of  same.  Persons  elected  as  Constables  or  Coun- 
cilmen  were  compelled  to  faithfully  perform  the  duties  of 
their  offices  under  penalty  of  $20.00  for  failure.  The  Coun- 
cil stipulated  the  market  regulations  and  appointed  a  Clerk 
of  the  Market.  They  also  appointed  two  Street  and  Road 
Commissioners  for  the  supervision  of  highways  and  side- 
walks. By  the  terms  of  the  law  the  annual  tax  levy  could 
not  exceed  one-half  cent  on  the  dollar,  except  for  a  special 
purpose,  and  then  only  by  written  consent  of  a  majority  of 
the  freeholders.  Provision  was  also  made  for  a  Court  of 
Appeal,  composed  of  two  members  of  the  Town  Council  for 
the  purpose  of  determining,  if  called  upon,  the  justice  of 

[  130  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

apportionment  for  any  tax  levied  and  to  remedy  any  griev- 
ance that  might  occur  in  levying  same.  The  Burgess  and 
Council  also  had  power  to  regulate  the  building  of  wharves 
en  the  water  front.  There  had  been  considerable  difficulty 
in  collecting  the  borough  taxes  under  the  old  charter ;  there- 
fore, a  great  deal  of  power  was  given  to  the  new  corpora- 
tion to  accomplish  this  function;  the  last  clause  of  the 
charter  but  one,  while  providing  for  an  appeal  to  the  Court 
of  Quarter  Sessions  for  an  adjustment  of  any  grievances 
imposed  by  the  Act,  made  an  exception  to  this  privilege  in 
the  matter  of  the  levying  and  collecting  of  borough  taxes. 

Other  events  of  the  year  1804  were :  The  establishment 
of  the  first  cotton  factory  here  by  Peter  Eltonhead,  the 
capital  having  been  raised  by  public  subscription ;  the  open- 
ing of  a  shop  for  the  manufacturing  or  drawing  of  iron  wire 
by  John  Parkin;  and  the  establishment  of  Pittsburgh's  first 
banking  house,  a  branch  of  the  Bank  of  Pennsylvania,  which 
was  opened  at  the  beginning  of  the  year,  January  ninth,  in 
the  stone  building  on  Second  street  (now  Second  avenue) 
between  Ferry  street  and  Chancery  lane.  Thomas  Wilson 
and  John  Thaw,  father  of  William  Thaw,  both  clerks  in  the 
parent  bank,  were  sent  here  to  open  the  branch.  Mr.  Wil- 
son was  made  cashier  and  Mr.  Thaw,  teller. 

It  was  also  in  this  year,  on  the  morning  of  Independence 
Day,  that  better  and  more  frequent  communication  with  the 
east  was  established  by  the  opening  of  a  regular  line  of 
stages  between  Pittsburgh  and  Philadelphia.  The  first 
schedule  called  for  a  stage  to  leave  both  ends  of  the  line 
once  a  week.  Other  lines  connecting  with  towns  nearer  fol- 
lowed. The  third  newspaper  of  Pittsburgh,  the  Common- 
wealth, first  went  to  press  in  1805;  and  in  May,  1806,  the 
newspapers  published  advertisements  for  bids  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  turnpike,  or  sections  thereof,  from  Pitts- 
burgh to  Harrisburgh.  The  Act  authorizing  the  construc- 
tion of  this  turnpike  went  through  various  alterations  and 
amendments  and  the  time  for  the  inauguration  of  the  work 
was  set  ahead  to  the  year  1814.  In  that  year  another  law 
was  passed  authorizing  the  Pittsburgh  and  Harrisburgh 
Turnpike  to  be  built  in  five  sections  and  limiting  the  time 
for  the  commencement  of  the  work  to  five  years. 

[  131  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

It  was  in  the  first  and  second  decades  of  the  nineteenth 
century  that  emigration  to  the  Western  country  reached  its 
full  volume.  The  Eastern  farmers  and  others,  who  had  lost 
much  because  of  the  Revolution,  sold  their  possessions  at 
whatever  advantage  possible  and  came  West,  hoping  to 
retrieve  their  fortunes  by  settling  in  the  '  *  Ohio  Country. ' ' 
It  has  been  estimated  that  the  population  of  Kentucky  in- 
creased from  406,511  in  1810,  to  527,000  in  1815;  that  of 
Ohio  from  230,000  to  about  400,000 ;  of  Indiana  from  about 
25,000  to  about  100,000.  The  boom  which  Pittsburgh  ex- 
perienced in  its  commanding  position  at  the  head  of  the 
Ohio,  the  great  highway  through  this  new  territory,  may  be 
comprehended  when  it  is  considered  that  the  greater  part 
of  this  emigration  passed  through  this  point,  thus  rapidly 
enhancing  her  manufacturing  and  commercial  interests.  It 
was  even  at  this  time  known  as  the  "  Birmingham  of 
America,"  and  was  noted  for  its  smoky  aspect.  Cramer's 
Navigator  for  1808  gives  the  following  "  Enumeration  of 
the  professions,  the  manufactories  and  the  number  of  mas- 
ter workmen  in  each  particular  branch,"  according  to  an 
account  taken  in  the  fall  of  1807 : 


1  Cotton  Factory, 

8  Butchers, 

1  Green  Glass  works. 

2  Barbers, 

2  Breweries, 

6  Hatters, 

1  Air  Furnace, 

4  Physicians, 

4  Nail  Factories, 

2  Potteries, 

7  Coppersmiths, 

2  Straw  Bonnet  makers. 

1  Wire  Manufactory, 

1  Reed  maker. 

1  Brass  Foundry, 

2  Spinning  Wheel  makers, 

6  Saddlers, 

1  Wool  and  Cotton  Cord  manu- 

2 Gunsmiths, 

facturer. 

2  Tobacconists, 

4  Plane  makers. 

1  Bell  maker. 

6  Milliners, 

1  Scythe    and    sickle 

maker,    5 

12  Mantua  makers. 

miles  up  the  Allegheny, 

1  Stocking  weaver. 

2  Soap  boilers  and  tallow  chand- 

1 Glass  Cutter, 

lers, 

2  Book  Binderies, 

1  Brush  maker. 

4  House  and  sign  Painters, 

1   Trunk  maker. 

2  Tinners, 

5  Coopers, 

1  Sail  maker. 

10  Blue  dyers. 

2  Mattress  makers. 

13  Weavers, 

1  Upholsterer, 

1  Comb  maker. 

5  Wagon  makers. 

7  Cabinet  makers. 

5  Watch  and   Clock  makers  and 

1   Turner, 

Silversmiths, 

6  Bakers, 

5  Brick  Layers, 

[  132  ] 

BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

4  Plasters,  5  Windsor  Chair  makers, 

3  Stone  Cutters,  1  Split-bottom  chair  maker, 

5  Boat  Builders,  13  Tailors, 

2  Ship  Builders,  3  Spinning-wheel      spindle      and 
1  Saddletree  maker,  crank  makers, 

1  Flute  and  Jewsharp  maker,  12  School  Mistresses, 

1  Pump  maker,  1  Breeches  maker, 

1  Bell  hanger,  1  Glove  maker, 

2  Looking-glass  makers,  33  Tavern  keepers, 

1  Ladies'  lace  maker,  50  Store  keepers  or  merchants, 

1  Lock  maker,  4  Printing  offices, 

7  Tanners,  1  Copper  plate  printer, 

2  Rope  walks,  5  Brick  yards, 

1  Gardner  and   Seedsman,  3  Stone  masons, 

17  Blacksmiths,  2  Booksellers, 

1  Machinist  and  Whitesmith,  1  Harness  maker, 

1  Cutter  and  Tool  maker,  1  Horse  Farrier, 
32  House  Carpenters  and  Joiners,         1  Starch  maker, 

21  Boot  and  Shoe  makers,  3  Board  and  Lumber  yards, 

1  Ladies'  Shoe  maker. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  for  the  year  1807,  the  second 
year  following  (1809),  there  were  mentioned,  one  white  glass 
works,  owned  by  Messrs.  Robinson  and  Ensell;  one  Bell- 
metal  button  manufactory,  Thomas  Neal's;  one  Pipe  manu- 
factory, AViliiam  Price's;  one  Cotton  manufactory,  Mr. 
Scott's;  and  one  Patent  boot  and.  shoe  maker.  The  firm  of 
Robinson  and  Ensell, mentioned  in  this  enumeration,  as  man- 
ufacturers of  white  or  flint  glass,  was  short-lived,  for,  ac- 
cording to  Weeks,  an  authority  on  the  glass  industry  of  the 
United  States,  "  these  works  were  not  put  into  operation 
for  lack  of  capital,  and  the  establishment,  in  an  incomplete 
state,  was  offered  for  sale,  probably  without  having  made 
any  glass."  He  states  further  that,  "  In  August,  1808,  Mr. 
Benjamin  Bakewell  and  his  friend  Mr.  Page  (Benjamin) 
who  were  visiting  Pittsburgh  at  the  time,  were  induced  to 
purchase  the  works  on  the  representation  of  Mr.  Ensell, 
tJiat  he  thoroughly  understood  the  business. ' '  This  was  the 
beginning  of  the  firm  of  Bakewell  and  Page  which  estab- 
lished the  first  successful  flint  glass  house  in  the  United 
States.  The  firm  was  known  as  Bakewell  and  Ensell  and 
was  composed  of  Robert  Kinder  and  Co.,  of  New  York, 
(represented  by  Thomas  Kinder)  Benjamin  Page  and  Ed- 
ward Ensell.  The  representations  of  Ensell  to  Mr.  Bake- 
well,  as  to  the  equipment  of  the  works,  were  found  to  be 

[  133  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

incorrect;  Ensell  withdrew  in  1809  and  the  firm  became 
Bakewell  and  Company,  comprising  Robert  Kinder  &  Co., 
Benjamin  Page  and  Benjamin  Bakewell.  A  thorough  reor- 
ganization and  re-equipment  were  effected.  "  The  difficul- 
ties he  (Bakewell)  met  with,"  states  Weeks,  *'  would  have 
disheartened  a  less  determined  man.  *  *  *  jj^g  f^j._ 
nace  was  badly  constructed;  his  workmen  were  not  highly 
skilled  and  would  not  permit  the  introduction  of  appren- 
tices, and  his  materials  were  secured  from  a  distance  at  a 
time  when  transportation  was  difficult  and  expensive ;  pearl 
ash  and  red  lead  coming  from  Philadelphia,  and  pot  clay 
from  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  all  being  transported  over 
the  mountains  in  wagons.  Sand  was  obtained  near  Pitts- 
burgh, but  was  yellowish,  and  up  to  this  time  had  been  used 
for  window  and  bottle  glass ;  the  saltpetre  from  the  caves  of 
Kentucky  until  1825,  when  the  supply  was  obtained  from 
Calcutta.  These  difficulties  were  in  time  overcome.  Good 
clay  was  procured  from  Holland  and  purer  materials  were 
discovered,  and  he  rebuilt  his  furnaces  on  a  better  plan; 
competent  workmen  being  either  instructed  or  brought  from 
Europe,  and  through  his  energy  and  perseverence  the  works 
became  eminently  successful."  In  1813,  the  style  of  the 
firm  became,  Bakewell,  Page  and  Bakewell,  the  partners 
being  Benjamin  Bakewell,  Benjamin  Page,  and  Thomas 
Bakewell.  In  1827  it  became  Bakewell,  Page  and  Bake- 
wells ;  in  1832,  Bakewells  and  Anderson ;  in  1836  Bakewells 
&  Co.;  in  1842,  Bakewells  and  Pears;  in  1844,  Bakewell, 
Pears  and  Co.,  Limited.  Under  this  style  the  firm  ceased 
to  exist  in  1881. 

The  Franklin  Institute  at  Philadelphia  in  October,  1825, 
awarded  a  silver  medal  to  Bakewell,  Page  and  Bakewell 
over  many  competitors,  for  the  finest  specimen  of  cut  glass. 
The  site  of  this  famous  glass  house  was  just  east  of  the  foot 
of  Grant  street  on  the  bank  of  the  river.  The  claim  has 
been  made  that  0  'Hara  &  Craig  established  the  first  manu- 
factory for  flint  glass  in  Pittsburgh,  and  while  there  is  evi- 
dence that  experiments  in  the  manufacture  of  flint  glass- 
were  made  in  one  of  the  pots  of  their  furnaces,  by  a  Mr. 
William  Price,  who  had  recently  come  over  from  London, 
and  that  Craig  &  0  'Hara  contemplated  the  enlargement  of 

[  134  ] 


BENJAMIN    BAKEWELL,    ESQ. 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

their  works  to  include  this  branch  of  the  business,  there  is 
nothing  reliable  to  show  they  carried  out  their  plans.  Other 
houses  for  the  manufacture  of  flint  glass  followed  Bakewell 
and  Company's  in  quick  succession  for  those  times.  One 
was  erected  in  1809,  one  in  1810,  and  one  in  1812. 

The  date  of  the  beginning  of  the  manufacture  of  cut  glass 
in  Pittsburgh  and  in  the  United  States  is  yet  another  mat- 
ter of  uncertainty.  In  the  various  published  references  to 
this  subject,  so  far  as  Pittsburgh  is  concerned,  the  dates 
1  range  from  1804  to  1810.  The  earliest  mention  extols  the 
workmanship  of  Mr.  Eichbaum,  whose  specialty  seems  to 
have  been  chandeliers.  Doubtless  he  was  the  first  skilled 
cut-glass  workman  in  Pittsburgh,  but  owing  to  the  difficul-- 
ties  which  attended  the  manufacture  of  flint  glass  up  to 
3809-1810,  it  is  probable  the  flint  glass  was  imported.  Be 
that  as  it  may,  this  branch  of  the  industry  was 
not  an  important  factor  until  after  the  advent  of  the 
firm  of  Bakewell  and  Company.  The  next  year,  August 
twentieth,  1809,  the  Commonwealth  gave  the  following  in- 
teresting summary  of  the  manufacturing  carried  on  in 
Pittsburgh  and  vicinity: 

"  Glass  Works.  Of  these  we  have  three  in  handsome 
operation,  and  the  fourth  at  New  Geneva,  fifty  miles 
up  the  Monongahela  river.  Two  of  these  in  town  make  all 
kinds  of  flint  glass,  tumblers,  wine  glasses,  decanters,  etc., 
to  the  amount  of  about  $30,000.00  annually.  The  other  two 
make  green  bottles,  window  glass,  etc.,  to  the  value  of  say, 
$60,000.00  annually.  Stone  or  pit  coal  is  their  fuel  which 
costs  five  cents  per  bushel. 

''  Cotton  Mills.  We  have  two,  one  works  90  and  the 
other  contemplates  working  shortly  230  spindles,  they  man- 
ufacture cords,  chambrays,  jeans,  dimities,  etc.,  to  the  value 
of  about  $20,000.00  annually.  The  machines  are  set  in 
motion  by  a  pair  of  horses,  both  have  wool-carding  and  pick- 
ing machines  under  the  same  roof.  There  are  a  few  smaller 
cotton  mills  through  the  country  and  increasing ;  wool-card- 
ing machines  are  numerous,  some  going  by  water  and  others 
by  horses.  Cotton  brought  from  the  Mississippi  country, 
sells  at  twenty  cents  per  pound. 

"■  Buttons.    We  have  a  manufactory  of  white  metal  but- 

[  135  ] 


THE  HISTOKY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

tons  to  the  extent  of  40  to  60  gross  per  week  and  can  be 
extended. 

'  *  Iron  Grinding  Mill.  One  has  recently  come  into  opera- 
tion for  grinding  flat-irons,  scythes,  chisels,  etc. 

' '  Iron  Mongery.  Of  this  there  is  about  12  or  $15,000.00 
worth  made  annually  of  chisels,  claw-hammers,  shovels, 
chains,  axes,  etc.  From  late  experiments  it  has  been  found 
that  hinges  and  anvils  can  be  made  here  to  advantage. 
These  anvils  are  cast  on  a  thick  cold  iron  plate  which  ren- 
ders them  as  hard  as  the  steel  faced  anvils  and  at  less  than 
one-third  of  the  price  of  wrought  anvils,  our  smiths  began 
to  use  them  and  highly  approved  of  them.  Ingenious  and 
well  contrived  iron  brick  mills  are  cast  at  our  furnace  to- 
gether with  large  quantities  of  whole  wire  mills,  etc.  It 
lately  cast  seventy  tons  of  cannon  ball  for  the  United  States. 
We  have  seen  a  handsome  small  piece  of  this  casting.  Blis- 
tered and  Crowly  steel  is  made  at  Bedford  in  this  State; 
the  extension  of  this  manufacture  and  a  spade  and  shovel 
manufactory  is  much  wanted  in  this  country.  We  have  seen 
neat  pen-knives  made  here  and  we  believe  as  good  and  as 
cheap  as  those  imported  of  the  same  appearance.  It  is 
calculated  they  weave  about  52,800  yards  annually  of  linsey- 
woolsey,  cotton  and  linen  mixed  which  is  worth  upon  the 
average,  sixty-six  cents  per  yard,  amount  to  $38,848.00. 
There  are  also  considerable  quantities  of  rugs,  table  cloths, 
carpets,  etc.,  woven. 

'*  Linen.  About  80,000  yards  of  flaxed  linen,  coarse  and 
fine,  are  brought  to  the  Pittsburgh  market  yearly,  averaging 
from  twenty-four  to  forty  cents,  some  at  from  seventy-five 
to  one  hundred  cents  per  yard,  besides  about  ten  thousand 
yards  of  cotton  and  linen  mixed,  and  five  thousand  yards  of 
linsey-woolsey,  all  made  in  this  and  neighboring  counties  by 
the  industrious  families  of  farm  houses. 

''  Fine  Threads.  We  are  happy  to  say  that  fine  and 
beautiful  thread  is  now  brought  to  our  market.  We  have 
seen  some  of  twelve  dozen  cuts  to  the  pound  about  the 
quality  of  No.  28  imported. 

''  Woolen  Cloth.  We  have  seen  a  beautiful  piece  of  fine 
black  cloth  made  by  Mr.  John  D.  Bassa  of  Zelienople,  But- 
ler County,  Pennsylvania.     It  was  made  from  his  Merino 

[  136  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

sheep  and  will  bear  comparison  with  imported  cloths  such 
as  we  buy  from  our  merchants  at  from  $8.00  to  $9.00  per 
yard.  We  have  also  seen  a  piece  made  by  Colonel  David 
Hmnphreys,  of  Connecticut,  which  does  honor  to  the  patri- 
otic exertions  of  this  wealthy  manufactory,  a  man  whose 
name  will  be  engraven  on  the  minds  of  his  fellow  citizens 
tor  his  noble  labors  in  the  encouragement  of  the  domestic 
manufacturies  of  his  country,  particularly  the  importance 
of  the  breed  of  Merino  sheep.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  the 
coarser  woolen  cloths  made  by  our  farmers  for  family  use, 
some  is  also  manufactured. 

"  Nails.  We  have  seen  manufactories  of  these  in  town 
which  makes  about  three  hundred  tons  of  cut  and  wrought 
nails  of  all  sizes  annually.  The  manufacture  of  nails  is  con- 
siderable throughout  this  country. 

"  Bridle  Bits  and  Stirrups.  A  manufactory  of  this  has 
been  recently  established  in  town  and  bids  fair  to  do  well. 

*'  Tin,  Copper  and  Japanned  Wares.  We  have  six  man- 
ufactories briskly  carried  on  which  are  supposed  to  manu- 
facture wares  to  the  value  of  about  $30,000.00  worth  an- 
nually. Very  heavy  copper  articles  are  made  in  the 
mountains.  Copper  and  tin  wares  are  manufactured  con- 
siderably in  Brownsville.  Wire  weaving  and  this  business 
is  carried  on  to  a  very  considerable  account ;  sieves,  riddles, 
screens,  etc.,  can  be  made,  we  should  suppose,  in  sufficient 
quantities  to  supply  the  whole  western  country. 

"  Glass  Cutting.  This  business  has  been  recently  estab- 
lished by  an  ingenious  German  (Eichbamn)  formerly  glass 
cutter  to  Louis  XVI.,  late  King  of  France.  We  have  seen  a 
six-light  chandelier  with  prisms  of  his  cutting  which  does 
credit  to  the  workman  and  reflects  honor  to  our  country; 
however,  we  have  reason  to  believe  it  is  the  first  ever  cut  in 
the  United  States.  It  is  suspended  in  the  house  of  Mr. 
Kerr,  inn-keeper  of  this  place. 

**  Increase  of  Weavers.  In  the  year  1800  there  were  but 
five  looms  in  Pittsburgh ;  in  1807  there  vvere  eighteen,  and 
at  this  time  (1809)  we  have  forty-four. 

"  Rope  Walks.  We  have  but  one  of  these  on  a  small 
scale;  there  is  one  at  Brownsville. 

''  Snuff  and  Segars.     There  are  about  five  pounds  of 

[  137  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Rapee  and  Scotch  snuff  and  about  800,000  segars  manu- 
factured here  annually,  principally  of  Kentucky  tobacco. 

'^  Flour  and  Whiskey.  Of  these  articles  a  vast  and  un- 
known amount  is  made  throughout  the  country;  there  is, 
however,  too  little  foreign  demand  for  the  former  and  too 
great  home  consumption  of  the  latter  for  the  good  of  the 
inhabitants. 

"  A  House  full  of  Machines.  At  the  lower  falls  of  Big 
Beaver  Creek  there  are  an  oil  mill,  fulling  mill,  mill  for 
boring  and  grinding  gun  barrels,  a  wool  carding  machine, 
nail  manufactory  and  a  mill  for  sawing  whet-stones,  all 
under  one  roof.  At  the  same  place  a  cotton  carding  machine 
and  a  spinning  jenny,  an  ingenuous  machine  for  cutting  and 
forming  at  one  stroke,  cotton  card  teeth,  a  machine  for 
cutting  large  sacks  for  tobacco,  presses  for  fulling  mills,  and 
one  for  making  fuller's  shears.  The  greater  part  of  the 
above  machines  are  made  by  David  Townsend,  an  inde- 
fatigable mechanic  and  one  of  the  firm. 

"  Boat  and  Ship  Building.  Kentucky  and  New  Orleans 
boats,  keels,  bridges,  etc.,  are  made  in  great  numbers  on  all 
our  great  rivers,  and  there  is  now  a  vessel  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  tons  building  on  the  Allegheny  river  about  ten 
miles  above  this  place,  by  Mr.  Robbins.  Considerable  ship- 
building has  been  carried  on  at  Marietta  and  other  places 
on  the  Ohio,  but  the  business  has  slackened  by  the  change  of 
our  commercial  affairs  with  Europe  whose'  system  of  com- 
merce seems  to  be  that  of  war  and  plunder,  and  ours  peace 
and  justice;  these  powers  are  now  at  issue  and  the  Great 
Dispenser  of  nations  only  knows  how  it  will  terminate. 

''  Pipes  and  Queensivare.  We  have  a  pipe  factory  in  town 
and  there  is  a  good  kind  of  queensware  made  at  Charles- 
town,  Virginia,  together  with  stoneware. 

"  Steam  Mill.  A  mill  of  this  kind  has  been  recently  erected 
in  town  on  the  corner  of  Water  Street  and  Redoubt  Alley, 
of  construction  and  mechanism  that  does  honor  to  human 
invention.  It  is  calculated  for  three  pairs  of  stones  which, 
it  is  expected,  will  make  one  hundred  barrels  of  flour  in 
twenty-four  hours.  The  running  gear  is  all  of  cast  iron  of 
which  there  are  nearly  ten  tons  about  it.  The  two  cylindri- 
cal boilers  which  are  of  wrought  iron  are  26  feet  in  length 

[  138  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

and  twenty-seven  inches  in  diameter;  they  consume  about 
twenty  bushels  of  coal  daily  which  costs  $1,00.  The  mill  is 
owned  by  Owen  and  Oliver  Evans,  of  Philadelphia,  and  has 
cost  them^  it  is  said,  $14,000.00. 

''  Bar  Iron  and  Castings.  Our  country  is  rich  in  fur- 
naces and  bricks.  In  the  sixty  mills  of  this  place  there  are 
about  four  thousand  tons  of  bar  iron,  eighteen  thousand 
tons  of  pigs  and  castings  and  four  hundred  tons  of  slit  iron 
made  annually.  Exclusive  of  what  is  made  at  these  forges 
about  five  hundred  tons  of  rolled  and  bar  iron  came  to  our 
market  annually  from  forges  in  the  mountains.  (According 
to  Swank  '  the  rolling  and  slitting  mills  which  were  in  exist- 
ence in  Pennsylvanie  prior  to  1816  neither  puddled  pig  iron 
nor  rolled  bar  iron,  but,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Rentgen's 
enterprise,  *  *  *  rolled  only  sheet  iron  and  nail  plates 
from  blooms  hammered  under  a  tilt-hammer.') 

''  Poivder.  We  have  several  powder  mills  in  this  country 
but  their  supplies  are  not  equal  to  the  consumption.  Con- 
siderable quantities  are  brought  from  the  mountains. 

'^  Saddlery.  This  business  is  carried  on  briskly  to  the 
value  of  about  $40,000.00  worth  of  saddles,  bridles,  etc.,  are 
manufactured  here  annually. 

'^  Boots  and  Shoes.  These  are  made  in  this  place  to  the 
amount  of  about  thirty-five  thousand  pairs  of  shoes  and 
fifteen  thousand  pairs  of  boots  annually.  The  most  exten- 
sive manufacturer  in  this  place  is  Mr.  James  Riddle  whose 
annual  sales  are  considerably  above  $7,000.00.  Men's 
shoes,  however,  are  not  made  to  any  considerable  extent. 

"  Hats.  We  have  a  great  internal  supply  of  hats  man- 
ufactured throughout  the  western  country.  Mr.  Abraham 
Watkins  is  allowed  by  the  best  judges  to  manufacture  hats 
equal  to  any  in  the  United  States  and  perhaps  in  the  world. 

''  Stockings.  But  a  few  of  these  are  made  except  those 
knit  in  private  families  and  that  is  of  a  coarser  kind  of 
woolen  stockings  and  socks;  they  are,  however,  increasing. 

''August  30th,  1809." 

When  this  enumeration  of  the  business  activities  of 
Pittsburgh  was  made,  the  population  was  about  4,000.  A 
writer  of  the  period  says,  that  while  the  inhabitants  were 
largely  Americans,  there  were  many  Irish,  some  English, 

[  139  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

French,  Dutch,  Scotch  and  Swiss,  with  a  few  Welsh  and 
Italians,  but  that  '  *  notwithstanding  their  various  fashions, 
prejudices  and  passions  in  religion  and  politics  they  were 
generally  friendly  to  each  other,  hospitable  and  disposed  to 
encourage  one  another." 

In  1810  the  number  of  inhabitants  had  increased  to  4,740, 
and  the  town  is  described  at  this  date  as  containing  11  stone 
buildings,  283  of  brick,  and  473  of  frame  and  log;  a  total  of 
767.  The  Pittsburgh  Directory,  1815,  estimates  the  popu- 
lation in  that  year  at  9,000. 

The  building  of  the  New  Orleans,  the  first  steamboat  to 
run  on  western  waters,  at  Pittsburgh  in  1811,  was  the 
most  important  event  that  had  occurred  in  the  realm  of 
commerce  for  many  years,  and  did  more  than  any  other 
agency  for  the  development  and  industry  of  the  West. 
Ever  since  the  days  of  William  Ramsey,  fifty  years  pre- 
vious, with  his  two  little  boats  "  joined  together  at  ye 
steams  by  a  swivel  "  and  "  worked  by  one  man  *  *  * 
tredding  on  treddlers  at  bottom  with  his  feet  which  work 
scullers  or  paddles  fixed  over  ye  gunnels  turning  them 
round, ' '  numerous  attempts  had  been  made  to  improve  the 
means  for  the  propulsion  of  vessels.  Methods  of  wp.ter 
transportation,  in  the  United  States  at  least,  were  as  crude, 
almost,  as  they  had  been  for  centuries,  and  were  limited 
to  Keel  boats,  barges  and  flats  propelled  by  oars  and  poles. 
Of  these  various  types,  the  first  and  second  were  constructed 
over  a  somewhat  sharp  model  fore  and  aft.  They  were 
long,  and  built  with  a  narrow  runway  just  inside  the  gun- 
wale for  the  use  of  the  boatman  in  poling  or  warping  the 
boat  up  stream.  Oars  were  also  used.  A  Keel  boat  with  a 
cabin  or  cover  filling  the  space  between  the  gangways  was 
termed  a  barge.  Flat  boats  were  built  square  at  both  ends, 
and,  owing  to  their  size  and  unwieldiness,  it  was  impossible 
for  them  to  ascend  the  swift  waters  of  the  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi. They  merely  descended  without  other  means  than 
the  force  of  the  current  and  were  broken  up  at  their  destina- 
tion. 

Although  steam  navigation  was  at  this  time  a  success  in 
Eastern  waters  its  practicability  in  the  tortuous  and  vary- 
ing channels  of  the  western  rivers  was  yet  an  unsolved 

[  140  ] 


BEFOEE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

problem.  When  Livingstone  and  Fulton  and  Roosevelt 
(Nicholas  J.)  contemplated  the  project  of  establishing 
steam  navigation  for  these  waters,  they  deemed  it  necessary 
to  make  thorough  investigation  of  all  conditions  their  entire 
length  from  Pittsburgh  to  New  Orleans,  before  embarking 
in  their  enterprise.  Livingstone  and  Fulton  furnished  the 
means  and  Roosevelt,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  undertook 
the  investigation.  Arriving  in  Pittsburgh  for  preparation, 
in  May,  1810,  he  built  a  flat  boat  specially  suited  to  the  pur- 
poses of  the  voyage  and  set  out  for  New  Orleans  where  he 
arrived  six  months  later.  In  the  words  of  his  brother-in- 
law,  Mr.  J.  B.  H.  Latrobe,  who  wrote  an  interesting  account 
of  this  trip  and  of  the  building  and  pioneer  voyage  of  the 
Neiv  Orleans,  "  Cincinnati,  Louisville  and  Natchez  were  the 
only  places  of  even  the  smallest  note  between  Pittsburgh 
and  New  Orleans.  *  *  *  m^,  Roosevelt's  explanations 
were  listened  to  respectfully  as  he  stated  his  purpose  in 
visiting  the  west  and  narrated  what  steam  had  accom- 
plished on  the  eastern  rivers.  But  he  was  evidently  re- 
garded as  a  sanguine  enthusiast,  engaged  in  an  impracti- 
cable undertaking.  From  no  one  did  he  receive  a  word  of 
encouragement,  nor  was  the  incredulity  confined  to  the  gen- 
tlemen he  met  in  society ;  it  extended  to  the  pilots  and  boat- 
men, who,  passing  their  lives  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi, 
possessed  the  practical  information  that  he  wanted.  They 
heard  what  he  had  to  say  of  the  experience  of  Fulton  and 
Livingstone,  and  then  pointed  to  the  turbid  and  whirling 
waters  of  the  great  river  as  a  conclusive  answer  to  all  his 
reasoning.  That  steam  would  ever  be  able  to  resist  them 
they  could  not  be  made  to  understand. 

"  Nothing,  however,  shook  the  confidence  of  Mr.  Roosevelt. 
*  *  *  The  Ohio  and  Mississippi  were  problems  that  he 
had  undertaken  to  study ;  nor  did  he  leave  them  until  he  had 
mastered  them  in  all  their  bearings.  He  gauged  them;  he 
measured  their  velocity  at  different  seasons;  he  obtained 
all  the  statistical  information  ^vithin  his  reach  and  formed 
a  judgment  with  respect  to  the  future  development  of  the 
country  west  of  the  Alleghanies  that  has  since  been  amply 
corroborated.  Not  only  did  he  do  this,  but  finding  coal  on 
the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  he  purchased  and  opened  mines  of 

[  141  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

the  mineral,  and  so  confident  was  he  of  the  success  of  the 
project  on  hand  that  he  caused  supplies  of  the  fuel  to  be 
heaped  upon  the  shore  in  anticipation  of  the  wants  of  a 
steamboat  whose  keel  had  yet  to  be  laid  and  whose  very 
existence  was  to  depend  upon  the  impression  his  report 
might  make  on  the  capitalists,  without  whose  aid  the  plan 
would,  for  the  present  at  least,  have  to  be  abandoned.  Ar- 
riving in  New  York  in  the  middle  of  January,  1810,  Mr. 
Roosevelt's  report,  bearing  on  its  face  evidence  of  the 
thoroughness  of  his  examination,  impressed  Fulton  and 
Livingstone  with  his  own  convictions,  and  in  the  spring  of 
that  year  he  returned  to  Pittsburgh  to  superintend  the 
building  of  the  first  steamboat  that  was  launched  on  the 
western  waters."  Of  the  building  and  launching  of  the 
New  Orleans  and  its  exciting  trip  to  its  first  destination, 
Mr.  Latrobe  says :  ' '  Immediately  under  a  lofty  bluff, 
called  Boyd's  Hill,  along  the  Monongahela,  was  an  iron 
foundry,  known  as  Beelen's  foundry;  and  in  the  immediate 
proximity  to  this  was  the  keel  of  Mr.  Roosevelt's  vessel 
laid.  *  *  *  The  size  and  plan  of  the  first  steamboat 
had  to  be  determined  on  in  New  York.  *  *  *  Jt  ^as  to 
be  one  hundred  and  sixteen  feet  in  length  with  twenty  feet 
beam.  (Cramer's  Almanack  for  1810  gives  one  hundred 
and  thirty-eight  feet  as  length  of  keel,  which  is  doubtless 
correct.)  The  engine  was  to  have  a  thirty-four-inch  cylin- 
der and  the  boiler  and  other  parts  of  the  machine  were  to  be 
in  proportion.  *  *  *  Boat  builders  accustomed  to  con- 
struct the  barges  of  that  day,  could  be  obtained  in  Pitts- 
burgh; but  a  ship-builder  and  the  mechanics  required  in  the 
machinery  department  had  to  be  brought  from  New  York. 
*  *  *  At  length,  however,  all  difficulties  were  overcome 
by  steady  perseverance  and  the  boat  was  launched  on  the 
seventeenth  of  March,  and  called,  from  the  place  of  her 
ultimate  destination,  the  New  Orleans.  It  cost  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  $38,000.00. 

' '  When  it  became  known  that  Mrs.  Roosevelt  intended  to 
accompany  her  husband,  the  numerous  friends  she  had 
made  in  Pittsburgh  united  in  endeavoring  to  dissuade  her 
from  what  they  regarded  as  utter  folly,  if  not  absolute 
madness.    Her  husband  was  appealed  to.     The  criticisms 

[  142  ] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTEB 

that  had  been  freely  applied  to  the  boat  *  *  *  were 
now  transferred  to  the  conduct  of  the  builder.  *  *  * 
But  the  wife  believed  in  her  husband,  and  in  the  latter  part 
of  September,  1811,  the  New  Orleans,  after  a  short  ex- 
perimental trip  up  the  Monongahela,  commenced  her  voy- 
age. There  were  two  cabins;  one  aft  for  ladies,  and  a 
larger  one  forward  for  gentlemen.  *  *  *  ^y.  and  Mrs. 
Roosevelt  were  the  only  passengers.  There  were  a  captain ; 
an  engineer,  named  Baker;  Andrew  Jack,  the  pilot;  six 
hands;  two  female  servants;  a  man  waiter;  a  cook,  and  an 
immense  Newfoundland  dog,  named  Tiger.  Thus  equipped, 
the  Neiv  Orleans  began  the  voyage  which  changed  the  rela- 
tions of  the  West.  *  *  *  The  people  of  Pittsburgh 
turned  out  en  masse  and  lined  the  banks  of  the  Monongahela 
to  witness  the  departure  of  the  steamboat.  *  *  *  Heading 
up  stream  for  a  short  distance,  a  wide  circuit  brought  the 
Neiv  Orleans  on  her  proper  course  and  *  *  *  gj^e  dis- 
appeared behind  the  first  headlands  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Ohio.  *  *  *  On  the  second  day  after  leaving  Pitts- 
burgh, the  New  Orleans  rounded  to  opposite  Cincinnati 
*  *  *  and  many  of  the  acquaintances  of  the  former  visit 
came  off  in  small  boats.  '  Well,  you  are  as  good  as  your 
word;  you  have  visited  us  in  a  steamboat,'  they  said,  *  but 
we  see  you  for  the  last  time.  Your  boat  may  go  down  the 
river,  but,  as  to  coming  up  it,  the  very  idea  is  an  absurd 
one.'  "  *  *  *  Two  days  later  the  boat  reached  Louis- 
ville, where  the  same  offerings  were  made  by  the  citizens  as 
at  Cincinnati.  At  a  public  dinner  given  to  Mr.  Roosevelt  a 
few  days  after  his  arrival,  a  number  of  complimentary 
toasts  were  drunk,  but  there  remained  a  doubt  as  to  the 
boat's  ability  to  navigate  against  the  current.  "  Mr.  Roose- 
velt invited  his  hosts  to  dine  on  board.  *  *  *  Suddenly 
there  were  heard  unwonted  rumblings,  accompanied  by  a 
very  perceptible  motion  of  the  vessel  *  *  *  there  was 
an  instantaneous  rush  to  the  upper  deck  *  *  *  when 
the  company  found,  that,  instead  of  drifting  toward  the 
Falls  of  the  Ohio  the  Neiv  Orleans  was  making  good  head- 
way up  the  river  and  would  soon  leave  Louisville  in  the 
distance  down  stream.  *  *  *  Mr.  Roosevelt  had,  of 
course,  provided  this  mode  of  convincing  his  incredulous 

[  143  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

guests  and  their  surprise  and  delight  may  be  readily  im- 
agined. ' '  The  voyage  from  here  was  not  resumed  until  the 
last  week  in  November,  owing  to  a  low  stage  of  water.  It 
now  became  one  of  daily  peril  and  fright,  beginning  with 
the  thrilling  passage  over  the  Falls  at  Louisville,  followed 
by  the  days  of  darkness  attendant  upon  the  comet  of  1811, 
and  the  earthquake  of  that  year,  the  pursuit  by  Indians,  and 
an  accident  of  fire  on  board  which  was  happily  extinguished 
before  much  damage  was  done.  In  due  course  the  boat 
arrived  at  Natchez.  "  From  thence  to  New  Orleans  there 
was  no  occurrence  worthy  of  note." 

The  New  Orleans  plied  between  Natchez  and  New  Orleans 
as  a  common  carrier  until  the  winter  of  ISl-l,  when  she 
struck  a  snag  and  was  lost  at  Baton  Rouge. 

After  the  demonstration  of  the  practicability  of  steam 
navigation  of  the  rivers  by  the  Neiv  Orleans,  other  steam- 
boats were  built  here,  and  in  the  vicinity,  in  rapid  succes- 
sion, among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  Comet,  twenty- 
five  tons,  the  Vesuvius,  three  hundred  and  forty  tons,  the 
^tna,  three  hundred  and  forty  tons,  and  the  Enterprise. 
According  to  Thurston,  there  were  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
six  steamboats  built  at  Pittsburgh  from  1811  to  1835.  For 
the  same  period,  at  Brownsville,  twenty-two,  and  at  Beaver, 
seven.  The  Enterprise,  seventy-five  tons  burthen,  was  built 
at  Brownsville  in  1814,  and  left  Pittsburgh  for  New  Orleans 
with  a  cargo  of  ordnance  in  December  of  that  year.  On 
the  thirtieth  of  May,  1817,  she  arrived  in  Louisville  from 
New  Orleans,  having  set  out  from  the  latter  port  for  Pitts- 
burgh. This  was  the  first  steamboat  to  make  the  up-river 
trip. 

Closely  connected  with  the  advance  in  methods  of  water 
transportation  is  the  stimulus  given  to  the  export  coal  trade 
which,  down  to  this  time,  had  not  been  reckoned  of  much 
importance.  Coal  had  been  shipped  from  the  vicinity  of 
Pittsburgh  to  Philadelphia  by  way  of  New  Orleans  in  the 
ship  Louisiana,  in  1803,  but  only  as  ballast.  It  was  sold, 
however,  for  371/2  cents  per  bushel,  $10.50  per  ton.  As  the 
country  east  and  west  of  Pittsburgh  developed  with  the 
means  of  transportation,  a  new  vista  opened  to  this  section 
with  its  wealth  of  fuel  and  its  access  at  that  date,  to  over 

[  144  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

twelve  thousand  miles  of  navigable  streams.  (Now,  owing 
to  the  lighter  draft  of  the  modem  steel  boats  and  the  im- 
provement of  waterways,  over  twenty  thousand  miles  of 
inland  navigation  are  open  to  Pittsburgh.)  Companies  were 
formed  and  new  mines  were  opened.  "  French  Creeks  "  — 
flat  bottoms,  about  eighty  feet  long,  and  twenty  feet  wide 
and  six  feet  deep  —  were  built  by  the  hundred,  and  the 
waters  of  the  Monongahela  and  Ohio  assumed  a  new  aspect, 
bearing  their  numerous  coal  boats  to  the  markets  below. 
Nor  has  this  feature  of  the  commerce  of  Pittsburgh  and 
region  disappeared,  for  to  this  day  the  millions  of  bushels 
of  coal  afloat,  waiting  for  a  rise,  or  being  skilfully  piloted 
along  the  swift  current  in  great  fleets,  comprises  one  of  the 
interesting  sights  of  the  city. 

The  War  of  1812  was  vigorously  opposed  by  the  Federal 
party,  but  despite  the  fact  that  the  countiy  was  illy  pre- 
pared to  undertake  any  war  whatsoever,  the  result  was  of 
immense  ultimate  benefit  to  Pittsburgh.  Enterprising  men 
took  advantage  of  the  lack  of  European  imports  and  long, 
difficult  journeys  across  the  Allegheny  mountains,  and 
started  manufactories  to  supply  their  own  needs  and  the  de- 
mands from  the  rapidly  increasing  population  of  the  west. 
The  first  cannon  which  were  made  on  contract  for  the  fleet 
on  Lake  Erie  were  manufactured  at  the  foundry  of  Joseph 
McClurg;  the  rigging  and  cordage  was  also  manufactured 
in  Pittsburgh,  as  has  been  mentioned  on  a  previous  page. 
The  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  said :  * '  In  proportion  to 
the  difficulty  of  access  to,  and  commerce  with,  foreign 
nations,  is  the  zeal  and  exertion  to  supply  our  wants  by 
home  manufactures.  Our  mills  and  furnaces  are  greatly 
multiplied.  We  make  in  Pennsylvania  various  articles  of 
domestic  use,  for  which,  two  years  since,  we  were  wholly 
dependent  upon  foreign  nations." 

The  directory  of  Pittsburgh  and  its  vicinity  for  the  years 
1812-13,  published  by  Patterson  and  Hopkins,  Book- 
sellers, corner  of  Wood  and  Fourth  streets,  as  a  part  of  the 
Honest  Man's  Almanac,  gives  an  interesting  enumeration 
of  the  prominent  citizens,  the  various  lines  of  business  and 
the  professions  here  at  the  time : 
"  Allison,  Geo.  merchant.  Market  St.  bet  3rd  and  4th. 
10  [  145  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Alges,  Thos.  merchant,  Market  St.  bet.  2nd  and  3rd. 
Adams  James,  com.  merchant,  cor.  Market  and  the  Dia- 
mond. 
Anshutz,  G.  &  C.  com.  merchants,  Wood,  bet.  Water  and 

Front. 
Arthurs  Jas.  wool  carding  factory,  Strawberry  alley,  bet. 

Grant  and  Smithfield. 
Baldwin  Henry,  lawyer.  Front,  bet.  Market  and  Ferry. 
Baird  Thos.  merchant,  4th,  bet.  Market  and  Wood. 
Beelen  Anthony,  merchant,  Front,  bet.  Market  and  Wood. 
Bean  Isaac,  agent  for  Harmony  Society,  Market,  bet.  3rd 

and  4th. 
Beltzhoover,  Wendt  &  Co.  Glass  House,  Birmingham. 
Brunot  B.  doctor,  4th,  bet.  Market  and  Wood. 
Bakewell  B.  glasshouse,  Scotch  Hill,  bank  of  Monongahela. 
Brown,  Barker  &  Butler,  mfgs.  of  all  kinds  of  iron  ware, 

Liberty,  bet.  Hay  and  Pitt. 
Collins  Thos.  lawyer,  n.  e.  cor.  Diamond. 
Chaplain  Jno.  H.  lawyer.  Ferry,  bet.  Market  and  Front. 
Crossan  Jas.  &  Co.  merchants.  Wood,  bet.  2nd  and  3rd. 
Cochran  Robt.  merchant.  Wood,  bet.  2nd  and  3rd. 
Cunliffe  Robt.  merchant,  Wood,  bet.  2nd  and  3rd. 
Cook  David,  merchant,  Smithfield,  bet.  4th  and  Diamond 

alley. 
Cramer,    Spear   &   Eichbaum,    printers    and    booksellers, 

Market,  bet.  Front  and  2nd. 
Cunningham  N.  &  Co.  merchants,  Market  and  3rd. 
Cochran  Geo.  merchant,  Market,  bet.  2nd  and  3rd. 
Cromwell,  T.  &  J.  com.  merchants,  cor  Wood  and  Water. 
Cowan  C.  com.  merchant,  Front,  bet.  Market  and  Liberty. 
Commonwealth  Office,  n.  w.  cor.  of  Diamond. 
Cochran  &  Dowling,  wool  carding  factory.  Hay's  alley, 

bet.  Liberty  St.  and  Diamond. 
Cowan  C.  rolling  and  slitting  steam  mill,  Penn,  bet.  St. 

Clair  and  Pitt. 
Cowen  John,  bow  string  factory,  south  side  Diamond. 
Douglas  Samuel,  lawyer.  Second,  bet.  Market  and  Ferry. 
Denny  Ebenezer,  merchant,  cor.  Market  and  3rd. 
Dawson  Geo.  doctor.  Market,  bet.  3rd  and  4th. 
Darragh  John,  magistrate.   Fourth,  bet.    Smithfield    and 

Wood. 

[  146  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTER 

Eari  William,  merchant,  bet.  4tli  and  Diamond. 
Evans  David,  merchant,  cor.  4th  and  Liberty. 
Enochs  Thomas,  magistrate,  Penn,  opp.  5th. 
Eichbaum  &  Sons,  wire  factory,  above  the  ship-yard. 
Evans  George  &  Co.  steam  flour  mill,  Water,  bet.  Redoubt 

Alley  and  Short  St. 
Engles  S.  &  Co.  printers,  Wood,  bet.  3rd  and  4th. 
Fulton  Henry,  merchant.  Diamond,  south  side  and  Wood, 

bet.  Diamond  Alley  and  Fifth  St. 
Foster  Wm.  B.  &  Co.  steam  mill  and  tilt  hammers.  Grants 

Hill. 
Finch  William,  Morocco  factory,  4th,  bet.  Jail  Alley  and 

Liberty. 
Ferris  Jno.  cabinet  maker.  Wood,  bet.  3rd  and  4th. 
Fleeson  Rees  E.  merchant.  Market,  bet.  3rd  and  4th. 
Gibson  James,  merchant,  Market,  bet.  Diamond  and  5th. 
Goutiere  Dr.  Wood,  bet.  Front  and  Second. 
Graham  Wm.  innkeeper.  Wood,  cor.  Water. 
Gilland  James,  magistrate.  Diamond,  west  side. 
Gorman  &  Co.  brewery,  above  the  shipyard. 
Gore  A.  F.  suspender  factory,  Market,  bet.  2nd  and  3rd. 
Gormly  Wm.  Diamond  St.  west  side. 
Heazleton  Wm.  merchant,  Market,  bet.  Diamond  and  5th. 
Hodge  John,  merchant,  Wood,  bet.  Front  and  Second. 
Hamilton  Wm.  bridle  bit  factory.  Market,  bet.  Water  and 

Front. 
Hankart  &  Baker,  tobacconists,  etc.,  Fourth,  bet.  Market 

and  Liberty. 
Hollingsworth,  stocking  weaver.   Strawberry    Alley,    bet. 

Liberty  and  Smithfield. 
Hampshire  E.  coppersmith  and  tinner,  4th,  bet.  Market  and 

Ferry. 
Irwin  John,  merchant,  cor,  4th  and  Market. 
Irwin  Boyle,  Com.  merchant,  east  side  of  Diamond. 
Jelly  H.  &  J.  merchants,  cor.  Market  and  Diamond,  cotton 

factory  and  shipyard. 
Kerr  John,  innkeeper,  Water,  bet.  Wood  and  Market. 
Kerwin  James,  cotton  factory,  3rd,  bet.  Wood  and  Smith- 
field. 
Kendrick  R.  silver  plater,  Wood,  bet.  Front  and  2nd. 

[  147  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Latshaw  C.  merchant,  corner  of  Wood  and  Second. 

Lea  James,  merchant,  corner  of  Market  and  Second. 

Logan  David  &  Co.  com.  merchants.  Water,  between  Ferry 
and  Short. 

Lewis  Joel,  doctor,  corner  of  Market  and  Water. 

Liggett  John,  cabinet  maker,  Second,  between  Wood  and 
Market. 

Liggett  Thomas,   cabinet  maker,   Second,   between  Wood 
and  Market. 

Lithgow  Walter,  plane  maker,  Market,  between  Fifth  and 
Virgin  Alley. 

Lieper  &  McKown,  steel  factory,  above  the  Shipyard. 

Livery  Stable,  of  Sutton  &  M'Nickle,  Diamond  Alley,  be- 
tween Wood  and  Smithfield. 

Mountain  James,  lawyer,  Penn,  between  St.  Clair  and  Pitt. 

M 'Donald  John,  lawyer.  Wood,  corner  of  Third. 

M'Kown  Gilbert,  merchant,  corner  of  Wood  and  Front. 

Morrison  James,  merchant.  Wood,  between  2nd  and  3rd. 

M  'Clelland  George  W.  merchant.  Wood,  between  3rd  and  4th. 

Mazurie  Theodore,  merchant,  comer  of  Market  and  Front. 

M'Candless  William,  merchant.  Market,  between  3rd  and 
4th. 

M 'Knight  William,  merchant,  corner  of  Market  and  Fourth. 

Martin    James,    merchant.    Market,    between    Third    and 
Fourth. 

M'Clurg  Joseph,  merchant.  Diamond,  west  side. 

M 'Donald  John,  merchant,  corner  of  Market  and  Diamond. 

Mowry  Peter,  doctor.  Diamond,  east  side. 

M'Cullough  William,  innkeeper,  corner  of  Wood  and  Fifth. 

Mowry  Philip,  magistrate,  5th,  between  Wood  and  Market. 

Morrow  William,  innkeeper,  comer  of  Wood  and  Fourth. 

Mercury  Office,  Market,  between  Third  and  Fourth. 

M'Clurg  Joseph  and  Alexander,  foundry,  corner  of  Fifth 
and  Smithfield. 

M'Cracken  —  — ,  cotton  carding.  Strawberry  Alley,  be- 
tween Liberty  and  Smithfield. 

Miltenberger  George,  coppersmith  and  tinner.  Front,  be- 
tween Market  and  Ferry. 

Neal  Reuben,  button  factory,  Wood,  between  Water  and 
Front. 

[  148  ] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

Oliver  Joseph,  bellows  maker,  Fourth,  between  Wood  and 

Smithfield. 
Osborne  John,  merchant.  Wood,  between  Diamond  Alley 

and  Fifth. 
O'Hara  James,  sen.  com.  merchant.  Point  brewery.  Point 

glass-house,  opposite  Point  on  Monongahela. 
Oflfice  of  Discount  and  Deposit,  Second,  between  Market  and 

Ferry. 
Office  of  the  Pittsburgh  Manufacturing  Company,  comer  of 

Market  and  Third. 
Patterson  James,  merchant,  Wood,  between  3rd  and  4th, 

coffee-mill  maker.  Wood,  between  3rd  and  4th,  cotton 

factory.  Fourth,  between  Wood  and  Smithfield. 
Pennington  E.  doctor.  Third,  between  Market  and  Wood. 
Patterson  &  Hopkins,  booksellers,  corner  of    Wood    and 

Fourth. 
Pittsburgh    Gazette    Office,    Market,    between    Front   and 

Second. 
Patterson  &  Co.  steam  paper-mill,  bank  of  Allegheny,  above 

Pittsburgh. 
Pedan  Edward,  tobacconist,   Fifth,  between  Market  and 

Liberty. 
Post-office,  Front,  between  Market  and  Ferry. 
Roberts  Samuel,  President  of  the  Courts  of  C.  P.  and  Q.  S. 

Penn,  between  Pitt  and  Hay. 
Rcps  James,  lawyer.  Fourth,  on  Grant's  Hill. 
Read    Thomas,    merchant.    Market,    between    Third    and 

Fourth. 
Ronaud  F.  merchant.  Market,  between  Third  and  Fourth. 
Richardson  N.  merchant.  Market,  between  3rd  and  4th. 
Robinson  William,  com.  merchant,  corner  of  Wood  and 

Front. 
Robinson  George,  glass-house.  Water,  between  Grant  and 

Smithfield. 
Ramage  John,  stocking  weaver.  Grant's  Hill. 
Smith  Samuel,  merchant,  corner  of  Wood  and  Front. 
Semple  John,  merchant,  Wood,  between  Front  and  Second. 
Skelton  J.  P.  &  J.  W.  druggists,  corner  of  Wood  and  3rd. 
Speer  Daniel,  merchant,  comer  of  Wood  and  Third. 
Snowden  John  M.  printer  and  bookseller,  Market,  between 

Third  and  Fourth. 

[  149  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Sutton  &  M  'Nickle,  merchants,  comer  of  Third  and  Market 
and  Water,  between  Wood  and  Market,  and  warehouse 
in  Third,  between  Wood  and  Market. 

Scully  &  Graham,  merchants,  Market,  between  Second  and 
Third. 

Simpson  Robert,  grocer.  Diamond,  east  side. 

Stevenson  George,  doctor,  Penn,  between  Pitt  and  Hay. 

Sturgeon  Jeremiah,  innkeeper,  comer  of  Diamond  Alley 
and  Wood. 

Stewart  George,  innkeeper,  corner  of  Wood  and  Fifth. 

Stewart  Lazarus,  magistrate.  Fourth,  between  Market  and 
Wood. 

Steele  William,  magistrate,  Front,  between  Market  and 
Ferry. 

Stackhouse  &  Rodgers,  steam  engine  makers,  Second,  be- 
tween Smithfield  and  Grant. 

Scott  William,  plane  maker,  4th,  between  Wood  and  Market. 

Trevor  &  Encell,  glass  house,  south  side  Monongahela,  op- 
posite Wood  Street. 

Vanderschot,  doctor,  Irwin's  Alley,  between  Liberty  and 
Penn. 

Woods  John,  lawyer,  upper  end  of  Penn  Street. 

Wilkins  William,  lawyer,  Water,  between  Wood  and  Smith- 
field. 

Wilkins  Charles,  lawyer,  Wood,  between  Front  and  Second. 

Wills  James,  lawyer,  northeast  corner  of  Diamond. 

Watson  Alexander,  merchant.  Market,  between  Front  and 
Second. 

Wylie  James,  merchant,  Market,  between  2nd  and  3rd. 

Wrenshall  &  Boggs,  merchants,  corner  of  Market  and 
Fourth. 

Wills  John,  merchant,  between  Diamond  and  Fifth. 

Wickersham  Isaac,  wire-weaver.   Market,  between  Front 
and  Second. 
(The  Directory  for  1814  will  be  considerably  enlarged.) " 

Among  the  active  measures  of  the  Federal  government 
during  the  War  of  1812  was  the  establishment  of  arsenals 
in  various  sections  of  the  country  for  the  manufacture  and 
storage  of  arms  and  other  munitions  of  war.    It  was  de- 

[  150  ] 


BEFORE  THE   CITY  CHARTEE 

cided  to  locate  one  in  or  near  Pittsburgh,  and  thirty-seven 
acres  of  land  three  miles  above  the  point  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  Allegheny,  were  selected  by  Mr.  W.  B.  Foster  and 
Colonel  Wooley,  and  the  Allegheny  Arsenal  was  built 
thereon  in  1813-14,  at  a  cost  of  over  $300,000.00.  The 
Arsenal  Park  extended  from  the  Allegheny  river  to  what 
was  then  known  as  the  Philadelphia  turnpike,  now  Penn 
avenue,  and  was  divided  by  the  Butler  road,  now  Butler 
street.  The  lower  park  contained  a  military  store,  built  of 
free-stone  three  stories  high,  two  carriage  and  three  timber 
sheds  with  brick  pilasters,  and  a  river  wall  of  massive  stone. 
The  buildings  were  arranged  in  the  form  of  a  square,  in- 
cluding the  following:  The  main  arsenal  or  magazine  of 
arms,  a  three-story  building  with  a  tower  forty  feet  square 
at  the  base  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  high,  the 
officers'  quarters,  barracks,  armory,  smithery,  carriage 
shop,  machine  shop,  paint  shop,  accoutrement  shop  and  the 
offices.  The  offices  were  of  brick.  The  upper  park,  like  the 
lower,  was  surrounded  with  a  well-built  stone  wall ;  it  con- 
tained the  public  stables,  of  brick,  three  small  frame  build- 
ings and  the  powder  magazine,  designed  to  contain  approxi- 
mately thirteen  hundred  barrels.  The  arsenal  was  opened 
by  Colonel  Wooley,  the  first  Commandant,  and  Mrs.  Wooley, 
with  a  most  elaborate  function  which  was  both  anticipated 
and  enjoyed  with  pride  and  delight. 

The  social,  religious  and  intellectual  side  of  life  was  be- 
coming an  increasingly  important  factor  in  the  community, 
as  will  be  seen  in  the  succeeding  pages.  There  were  eight 
churches : 

Protestant  Episcopal,  Rev.  John  Taylor,  pastor. 

First  Presbyterian,  Rev.  Francis  Herron,  pastor. 

Second  Presbyterian,  Rev.  Thomas  Hunt,  pastor. 

Roman  Catholic  Chapel,  Rev.  William  O'Brien,  pastor. 

Seceders,  Rev.  Robert  Bruce,  pastor. 

Covenanters,  Rev.  John  Black,  pastor. 

Methodists, . 

German  Lutheran,  Rev.  Jacob  Schnee,  pastor. 

There  was  also  a  Bible  Society  here  in  1815,  with  Rev- 
erend Robert  Bruce  as  President,  and  numbering  six  other 
clergymen  and  many  prominent  citizens  as  officers.     The 

[  151  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Pittsburgh  Humane  Society,  established  in  1813,  with  Rev. 
Joseph  Stockton  as  President;  the  Pittsburgh  Chemical  and 
Physiological  Society,  organized  in  1813  with  Mr.  Walter 
Forward  as  President.  Harmon  Denny  was  Secretary, 
Samuel  Pettigrew,  Treasurer,  and  Lewis  Peterson, 
Librarian.  The  lecturer  on  Chemistry  was  Doctor  B. 
Troost;  Botany,  M.  M.  Murray,  Esq.;  Anatomy,  Dr.  Joel 
Lewis ;  Mineralogy,  Dr.  F.  Aigster ;  Astronomy  and  Natural 
Philosophy,  Joseph  Patterson,  Esq.;  Annalist,  Aquila  M. 
Bolton;  Annual  Orator,  J.  B.  Trevor.  In  the  May  second 
number  of  the  Gazette,  there  is  record  of  the  Pittsburgh 
Mechanical  Society,  which  held  meetings  monthly,  but  it 
seems  to  have  died  out,  as  no  further  mention  of  it  is  to 
be  found.  There  was  also  the  Pittsburgh  Permanent 
Library  Company,  established  in  the  winter  of  1813-14, 
with  the  Rev.  Francis  Herron  as  President;  Aquila  M, 
Bolton,  Secretary;  John  Spear,  Treasurer.  Directors: 
Samuel  Roberts,  James  Lea,  Benjamin  Bakewell,  George 
Poe,  John  M,  Snowden,  Henry  Baldwin,  Dr.  John  Reynolds, 
J.  B,  Trevor,  William  Wilkins,  Lewis  Bollman,  Walter  For- 
ward and  Robert  Patterson.  The  library  was  open  only 
Saturday  evenings  for  the  issuing  and  return  of  books. 
The  foundation  of  this  library  consisted  of  an  initial  con- 
tribution of  $10.00  by  the  original  members  and  an  annual 
payment  of  $5.00.  Many  of  these  members  also  loaned 
books,  which  brought  the  total  number  of  volumes  of  the 
library,  including  those  purchased,  up  to  about  two  thou- 
sand. In  addition  to  the  above  organizations,  there  were 
the  various  fire  companies ;  the  Eagle,  formed  in  1810,  and 
the  Vigilant,  formed  in  1811 ;  the  Masonic  Societies ;  three 
weekly  newspapers  and  two  periodical  literary  works. 

Money  had  always  been  scarce  in  Pittsburgh  as  it  was  in 
all  frontier  towns  of  the  period;  but  with  the  increase  in 
manufacturing  and  commerce,  barter  became  less  and  less 
the  basis  of  business  transactions.  The  town  now  boasted 
of  three  banks ;  the  Office  of  Discount  and  Deposit  of  the 
Bank  of  Pennsylvania,  the  Bank  of  Pittsburgh  and  the 
Farmers'  and  Mechanics'  Bank  of  Pittsburgh,  all  in  flour- 
ishing condition. 

In  1815  the  buildings  of  a  public  character  were  **  a 

[  152  ] 


BEFORE  THE  CITY  CHARTER 

handsome  octagon  Episcopal  church,  a  handsome  and 
spacious  Presbyterian  church,  also  a  Covenanters,  Grerman 
Lutheran  and  Roman  Catholic  church,  and  an  Academy,  all 
of  brick;"  a  court  house,  jail,  three  incorporated  banks,  a 
dramatic  theatre,  a  Masonic  hall,  three  market  houses,  one 
in  the  Diamond  and  two  in  Second  street.  Both  the  court 
house  and  market  house  in  the  public  square,  called  the 
Diamond,  were  built  of  brick,  and  some  of  the  mercantile 
and  financial  buildings  were  of  a  substantial  character. 

Population  in  1815.  At  the  close  of  this  year  the  popula- 
tion had  increased  to  nearly  ten  thousand,  including 
Birmingham  (laid  out  1811),  and  the  Northern  Liberties, 
afterwards  Bayardstown  and  Lawrenceville. 


[  153  ] 


THE  HISTOBY  OF  PITTSBURGH 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 


That  the  powers  of  self-government  granted  by  the  bor- 
ough charter  were  soon  deemed  too  restrictive  for  the  best 
interest  and  growth  of  the  town,  is  evidenced  by  the  revision 
asked  for  and  granted  by  the  State  in  the  charter  of  March 
fifth,  1804.  Under  that  act  the  town  was  to  remain  "  for- 
ever a  borough."  There  seems  to  have  been  no  conscious- 
ness at  the  time  that  this  second  borough  charter  would,  in 
a  little  more  than  a  decade,  be  judged  inadequate.  The 
stimulus  given  to  industry  by  the  advantageous  location  of 
the  town,  with  a  wealth  of  fuel  and  minerals  so  close  at 
hand,  quickly  placed  her  to  the  front  and  ranked  her  as  the 
metropolis  of  industry  in  the  west.  The  borough  charter 
was  again  out-grown,  and,  in  the  year  1816,  Pittsburgh  was 
incorporated  as  a  city,  on  the  eighteenth  of  March,  under 
the  name  and  style,  "  The  Mayor,  Aledermen  and  Citizens 
of  Pittsburgh." 

The  city  government  consisted  of  a  Mayor,  Select  and 
Common  Councils,  a  Recorder  and  twelve  Aldermen.  The 
government  of  the  corporation  was  vested  in  the  Select 
and  Common  Councils,  which  had  full  power  and  author- 
ity to  make  such  laws,  ordinances  and  regulations  as 
were  necessary  or  convenient  for  the  government  and  well- 
fare  of  the  city,  provided  they  were  not  repugnant  to  the 
laws  and  Constitution  of  the  United  States  or  Pennsylvania. 
All  laws  and  ordinances  were  to  be  published  and  recorded, 
and,  during  the  sessions  of  the  Select  and  Common  Councils, 
the  doors  of  the  respective  halls  wherein  they  assembled 

[  154  ] 


THE   MUNICIPALITY 

were  to  be  open  for  the  admission  of  all  peaceable  and 
orderly  persons  desirous  of  being  present  at  the  discussion 
of  by-laws,  ordinances  and  regulations. 

The  members  of  the  Select  and  Common  Councils  were  to 
meet  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  the  next  July,  and  on  the 
second  Tuesday  in  January,  annually  thereafter,  to  elect 
vive  voce,  one  of  the  aldermen  as  mayor  of  the  city. 

All  freemen,  citizens  of  Pennsylvania  or  of  the  United 
States,  who  had  resided  in  Pittsburgh  for  a  period  of  not 
less  than  one  year,  immediately  preceding  the  election,  and 
who,  within  that  time,  had  paid  a  borough  or  city  tax,  were 
to  meet  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  July  next,  and  thereafter,  on 
the  first  Tuesday  of  January  annually,  ' '  to  elect  by  ballot 
fifteen  persons  qualified  to  serve  as  members  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  of  this  Commonwealth,  to  be  members 
of  the  Common  Council  for  the  said  city  for  the  year  in 
which  they  shall  be  elected,  and  also,  at  the  first  election, 
nine  persons  qualified  to  serve  as  Senators  of  this  Common-' 
wealth  to  be  members  of  the  Select  Council  of  the  said  city, 
who  shall,  forthwith,  after  their  election,  divide  themselves 
by  lot  into  three  classes,  the  seats  of  the  first  class  shall  be 
vacated  at  the  expiration  of  the  first  year;  of  the  second 
class,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  year;  and  of  the  third 
class,  at  the  expiration  of  the  third  year,  so  that  one-third 
may  be  chosen  every  year  after  such  first  election."  The 
first  election  was  to  be  conducted  by  the  Burgess  and  Town 
Council  of  the  Borough  and  Aldermen  of  the  city,  or  any 
four  of  them. 

The  Governor  appointed  the  recorder  and  twelve  alder- 
men, who  were  to  hold  office  during  good  behavior,  and  who 
had  all  the  jurisdiction,  powers  and  authorities  of  justices 
of  the  peace,  and  justices  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  and  of  jail 
delivery  of  and  for  the  city  of  Pittsburgh. 

The  Mayor's  duty,  besides  that  of  an  alderman,  was  to 
preside  in  the  Mayor's  court  when  present  and  to  promul- 
gate the  by-laws,  rules  and  ordinances  of  the  corporation, 
and  especially  to  attend  to  the  due  execution  and  fulfillment 
of  the  same.  The  Mayor  was  entitled  to  receive  all  the 
emoluments  which  the  corporation  attached  to  that  office. 
It  was  further  enacted  that  the  Mayor,  Recorder  and  Alder- 

[  155  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

men,  or  any  four  or  more  of  them,  among  whom  the  Mayor 
or  the  Recorder  was  included,  had  the  full  power  and 
authority  to  try  and  determine,  according  to  the  laws  and 
institutions  of  the  Commonwealth,  all  forgeries,  perjuries, 
larcenies,  assaults  and  batteries,  riots,  etc.  The  clerk  of  the 
Mayor's  court  was  appointed  by  the  Governor,  and  received 
fees  and  emoluments,  upon  the  same  conditions  as  did  the 
Clerk  of  Quarter  Sessions,  while  the  Recorder,  also  appointed 
by  the  Governor,  was  dependent  upon  the  Coimcil  for  his 
pay.  In  the  following  year,  however,  the  Legislature,  by  an 
Act  of  Amendment,  allowed  him  a  salary  of  six  hundred 
dollars.  The  Recorder  was  allowed  to  issue  writs  of  habeas 
corpus  in  all  cases  of  insolvent  debtors  and  criminal  causes 
originating  in  the  city  (Act  of  March  tenth,  1817,  vetoed  by 
the  Governor,  but  passed  over  his  veto) .  The  Act  of  Incor- 
poration did  not  affect  the  former  boundaries  to  any  great 
extent. 

The  first  election  for  city  councilmen  resulted  in  the 
choice  of  Messrs.  William  Wilkins,  James  R.  Butler,  John 
P.  Skelton,  Alexander  Johnston,  James  B.  Stevenson, 
James  Brown,  Paul  Anderson,  Richard  Robinson,  John  W. 
Johnston,  George  Evans,  John  Caldwell,  Thomas  McKee, 
David  Hunter,  John  Carson  and  J.  W.  Trembley  for  Com- 
mon Council,  with  William  Wilkins  as  President  and  Silas 
Engles,  Clerk.  The  first  members  of  Select  Council  were : 
Messrs.  James  Ross,  James  Irwin,  William  Lecky,  John 
Rosebergh,  Mark  Stackhouse,  Richard  Geary,  William 
Hays,  George  Stevenson  (Dr.)  and  Samuel  Douglass,  with 
James  Ross  as  President  and  James  Riddle,  Clerk.  The 
business  of  the  first  meeting  was  the  adoption  of  by-laws 
and  a  corporation  seal.  At  the  second  meeting  of  the 
Councils,  Major  Ebenezer  Denny  was  elected  the  first 
Mayor.  The  first  Clerk  of  the  Mayor's  court  was  John 
Gilland.  The  first  aldermen  of  the  city  were,  Ebenezer 
Denny,  John  Darragh,  William  Steele,  Philip  Mowry, 
Lazarus  Stewart,  Thomas  Enoch,  Phillip  Gilland,  James 
Young,  Robert  Graham,  John  Hannan,  John  M.  Snowden, 
Matthew  B.  Lowrie.  The  first  recorder  of  the  city  was 
Charles  Wilkins,  son  of  Gen,  John  Wilkins. 

At  the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  the  city,  the  bottom 

[  156  ] 


THE  MUNICIPALITY 

land  between  the  Allegheny  and  Monongahela  rivers,  was 
well  covered  with  residences,  business  houses  and  factories. 
The  streets  and  alleys  within  the  city  limits  were:  Penn 
and  Liberty  streets  (now  avenues),  running  parallel  with 
the  Allegheny.  Crossing  Penn  and  Liberty,  starting  at  the 
point ;  Water,  Marbury,  Pitt,  Cecil 's  alley,  St.  Clair,  Irwin, 
Irwin's  alley,  Hand  and  Wayne  streets.  From  Liberty, 
running  parallel  with  the  Monongahela;  Front,  Second, 
Third,  Fourth,  Hammond  alley  (afterward  Diamond  alley, 
now  Diamond  street).  Virgin  alley,  (now  Oliver  ave- 
nue) Sixth,  Strawberry  alley.  Seventh,  Plumb  alley 
and  Eighth  streets.  These  were  intersected  by  West 
and  Short  streets.  Redoubt  alley,  Ferry  street,  Chan- 
cery lane  (known  as  Jail  alley).  Market,  Wood  and 
Smithfield  streets,  Cherry  alley,  Grant  and  Ross  streets. 
The  constant  increase  in  population  and  wealth  was  also 
shown  by  the  growth  of  the  then  suburban  towns ;  Birming- 
ham on  the  "  South  Side,"  ''Alleghenytown  "  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  Allegheny,  the  Northern  Liberties  (Bayards- 
town)  and  Lawrenceville.  The  records  of  travellers  of  this 
period  also  mention  the  settlement  called  Pipetown,  on  the 
east  shore  of  the  Monongahela,  below  Ayres'  Hill.  Pipe- 
town  took  its  name  from  an  eccentric  little  old  gentleman 
named  William  Price,  who  manufactured  clay  smoking 
pipes  there.  Birmingham,  the  most  industrial  of  these 
suburbs,  was  cleared  and  settled  about  1810,  and  contained 
in  the  year  1816,  fifty  houses,  many  of  which  were  of  brick, 
one  glass  manufactory,  an  air  foundry  for  casting  many 
forms  of  iron  goods,  a  saw  mill  run  by  steam,  a  coffee  mill 
factory,  a  vise  maker,  an  extensive  pottery,  where  it  is 
said  "  beautiful  ware  "  was  made,  a  market  house  and  a 
place  of  public  worship.  The  site  of  Birmingham  or  ' '  the 
South  Side  "  was  originally  a  part  of  the  estate  of  John 
Ormsby,  an  officer  in  the  army  of  General  Forbes,  and  was 
granted  him  at  the  close  of  the  War  in  1763,  in  considera- 
tion of  his  services.  Carson  street  was,  in  the  early  days, 
the  Washington  Pike,  the  main  road  between  Pittsburgh 
and  Washington.  Pennsylvania,  where  it  connected  with  the 
great  National  Pike  by  a  branch  road.  Bayardstown,  the 
first  suburb  on  the  Allegheny  above  the  town,  was  laid  out 

[  157  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

by  George  A.  Bayard  and  James  Adams  in  1816,  and  Law- 
renceville  by  William  B.  Foster,  who  came  from  Virginia 
in  1811.  Mr.  Foster  intended  to  call  his  tract  Fosterville, 
but  at  about  that  time  Captain  Lawrence  fell  while  fighting 
his  ship,  the  Chesapeake,  on  Lake  Erie,  and  Mr.  Foster 
named  the  town  Lawrenceville,  in  honor  of  the  hero. 
(  The  growth  of  business  in  Pittsburgh  steadily  increased 
/  after  the  year  1810,  and  the  part  played  by  her  manufac- 
,  tures,  during  the  War  of  1812,  brought  the  district  into 
prominence  as  a  political  factor  in  the  affairs  of  the  nation. 
This  was  emphasized  by  a  visit  from  President  Monroe  in 
1817.  The  custom  of  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  nation 
visiting  various  sections  of  the  country  was  instituted  by 
Washington,  during  the  first  year  of  his  administration, 
when  he  visited  the  New  England  States  in  his  private 
coach.  James  Monroe  was  the  next  President  to  follow  his 
example,  making  a  trip  to  the  north  and  west,  during  the 
summer  of  1817,  to  examine  the  fortifications  and  arsenals 
of  the  seaboard  and  interior,  and  in  September  he  spent  a 
week  in  Pittsburgh.  The  free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi 
was  demanded  by  the  merchants  of  Pittsburgh  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  nineteenth  century,  as  their  trade  was  inter- 
cepted by  the  Spaniards  who  controlled  New  Orleans. 
James  Ross  of  Pittsburgh,  United  States  Senator  from 
Pennsylvania,  in  1803,  under  the  pressure  of  his  con- 
stituency, even  went  so  far  in  the  Senate  as  to  propose  the 
seizure  of  New  Orleans,  while  Robert  Livingstone,  repre- 
senting the  United  States  at  the  Court  of  France,  began 
negotiating,  with  the  assistance  of  James  Monroe,  the  Spe- 
cial Envoy,  to  obtain  access  to  the  sea.  This  resulted 
through  their  skillful  diplomacy,  in  the  purchase  of  the 
entire  Louisiana  Territory  from  Napoleon  Bonaparte  for 
fifteen  million  dollars.  Although  fourteen  years  had 
passed,  President  Monroe  was  popular  with  the  people  of 
Pittsburgh  and  was  received  with  enthusiasm.  He  arrived 
on  Friday,  the  fifth  of  September,  1817,  and,  according  to 
the  Gazette  of  September  ninth,  "  no  exertion  was  spared 
and  no  mark  of  attention  omitted  to  render  the  reception  to 
the  distinguished  guest  cordial  and  respectful.  He  was  met 
a  few  miles  outside  the  city  by  the  Committee  of  Arrange- 

[  158  ] 


THE  MUNICIPALITY 

ments  and  conducted  to  the  ferry  where  an  elegant  barge^ 
rowed  by  four  sea  captains  awaited  his  approach."  He 
entered  the  city  in  the  midst  of  the  firing  of  the  national 
salute,  the  sounds  of  music,  and  the  loud  acclamations  of 
the  citizens.  He  was  received  with  military  honor  by  Cap- 
tain Irwin's  Company  of  Volunteer  Light  Infantry.  A 
coach  and  four  awaited  to  convey  him  to  his  lodgings,  but, 
observing  that  the  authorities  of  the  city  were  on  foot,  he 
chose  to  walk.  The  procession  was  the  most  imposing  that 
had  ever  passed  through  the  streets  of  Pittsburgh.  Citizens 
of  all  walks  of  life  were  in  line,  including  the  clergy,  the 
principal  and  professors  of  the  Academy  and  others  en- 
gaged in  education.  The  procession  moved  to  the  residence 
of  William  Wilkins  where  a  reception  was  held.  On  Satur- 
day morning  the  city  ofiicials  waited  on  him,  and  an  address 
was  delivered  by  James  Eoss,  who  was  then  President  of 
the  Select  Council  and  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Ar- 
rangements. This  was  followed  by  the  address  of  the  Presi- 
dent, in  which  he  touched  upon  the  accomplishment  of  the 
free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi,  the  rapid  growth  of  this 
section  of  the  Union  in  agriculture,  manufactures  and  the 
useful  arts,  closing  with  his  best  wishes  for  the  welfare  of 
the  city.  He  visited  the  Arsenal  that  same  day,  and  Sunday 
morning  attended  the  Episcopal  Church;  in  the  afternoon, 
the  Presbyterian.  Monday  he  visited  the  manufacturing 
establishments,  and  Tuesday,  left  for  Washington  over 
the  United  States  Turnpike,  by  way  of  Brownsville. 
Thus  ended  Pittsburgh's  grandest  holiday  and  most  im- 
portant civic  entertainment  up  to  that  time. 

The  foresight  and  progressiveness  of  the  men  of  that  day 
were  marked  by  the  successful  enterprise  of  connecting 
Pittsburgh,  Birmingham  and  Allegheny  by  bridges,  that 
intercourse  betwen  the  towns  and  the  surrounding  country 
might  be  facilitated.  Charters  for  the  erection  of  these 
bridges  were  granted  by  the  State  in  1810,  but  were  allowed 
to  lapse.  New  charters  were  granted  in  the  winter  of  1816, 
and  books  were  opened  in  April  for  subscriptions  to  the 
stock  for  erecting  the  bridges,  and  the  next  month,  the 
necessary  amount  having  been  subscribed,  the  letting  of  the 
contracts  was  soon  announced. 

[  159  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

The  Commissioners  named  for  these  bridges  were  among 
the  first  citizens  of  the  town;  those  for  the  Monongahela 
bridge  were,  for  Pittsburgh:  William  Wilkins,  James 
Ross,  Thomas  Baird,  John  Thaw,  David  Pride,  Philip  Gil- 
land,  0.  Ormsby,  C.  Latshaw,  James  Brison,  S.  Douglass, 
Jacob  Beltzhoover.  Those  for  the  Allegheny  bridge  were, 
for  Pittsburgh:  William  Robinson,  Jr.,  James  O'Hara, 
Thomas  Cromwell,  William  Hays,  George  Shiras,  William 
Anderson,  James  Adams;  for  Allegheny:  Robert  Camp- 
bell, Hugh  Davis;  for  Harmony:  Abraham  Zeigler;  for 
Butler :  John  Gilmore  and  John  Potts ;  for  Beaver :  Robert 
Moore  and  Thomas  Henry. 

The  construction  of  the  two  bridges  was  similar.  The 
material  used  was  wood  and  iron,  the  ranges  of  wooden 
arches  resting  on  stone  piers;  the  sections  of  the  arches 
were  bolted  together  with  removable  iron  bolts  to  facilitate 
repairs,  and  the  flooring  was  suspended  from  the  arches  by 
iron  bars  an  inch  square. 

The  Monongahela  bridge  was  first  opened  for  passengers 
at  the  end  of  the  year  1818,  and  the  Allegheny  bridge  about 
two  years  later.  The  Monongahela  bridge  cost  $102,000.00, 
and  the  Allegheny  bridge  $80,000.00. 

A  list  of  the  manufactories  of  Pittsburgh,  the  number  of 
hands  employed,  and  the  output  of  each  was  ordered  by  the 
City  Councils,  in  the  year  1817.  This  enumeration  fairly 
summarizes  the  industrial  conditions  in  the  first  year  under 
the  city  charter. 

BUSINESS.  No. 

Auger  maker   1 

Bellows  maker 1 

Blacksmiths 18 

Brewers   3 

Brush  makers 3 

Button  maker   1 

Cotton  spinners 2 

Copper  and  tinsmiths 11 

Cabinet  makers T 

Currier    1 

Cutlers   2 

Iron  foundries 4 

Gunsmiths  and  bit  makers 3 

Flint  glass  factories 2 

Green  glass  factories 3 

[  160  ] 


Hands 

Amount  of 

Employed. 

Product. 

6 

$3,500 

3 

10,000 

74 

75,100 

17 

72,000 

7 

8,000 

6 

6,250 

36 

25,518 

100 

200,000 

43 

40,000 

4 

12,000 

6 

2,000 

87 

180,000 

14 

13,800 

82 

110,000 

92 

130,000 

THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Hands         Amount  of 

BUSINESS.  No.  Employed.       Product. 

Hardware  merchants   . ,  . , 2  17  18,000 

Hatters    7  49  44,640 

Locksmith 1  7  12,000 

Linen  manufactories 1  20  25,000 

Nail  manufactories 7  47  174,716 

Paper  maker 1  40  23,000 

Pattern  maker 1  2  1,500 

Plane  makers 3  6  57,600 

Potter  fine  ware 1  5  8,000 

Eope  maker   1  8  15,000 

Spinning  machine  maker 1  6  6,000 

Spanish  brown  manufactory 1  2  6,720 

Silver  plater 1  40  20,000 

Steam  engine  makers 2  70  125,000 

Steam  grist  mills 2  10  50,000 

Saddlers 6  60  86,000 

Silversmiths,  &c 5  17  12,000 

Shoe  and  boot  makers 14  109  120,000 

Tanners   7  47  58,860 

Tallow  chandlers 4  7  32,600 

Tobacconists 4  23  21,000 

Wagon  makers 5  21  28,500 

Weavers  2  9  14,562 

Windsor  chair  makers 3  23  42,600 

Woolen  manufactories 2  30  17,000 

Wire  drawer 1  12  6,000 

White  lead  factory 1  6  40,000 

Total  manufacturies  in  the  above 148 

"       Hands  Employed 1,280 

"       Value  of  Products $1,896,366 


In  addition  there  were  the  following  trades  returned  by 
committee  of  which  no  details  of  hands  and  products  were 
furnished  by  "  conductors." 


Chair  makers 

Currier   

...       3 
...       1 

2 

Printers    

Plane  maker  , 

.....       6 
1 

Cabinet  makers 

Blacksmiths   

Shoemakers   , 

Saddlers   .4 

Sillv  Dyer 

Stone  cutters 

21 

Cotton  carder   

Comb  maker   

...       1 
1 

23 

2 

Coach  maker 

1 

1 

Copper  plate  printers  .... 

...       2 

...       3 

...       4 

1 

.  ..  ..       6 

Book  binders 

Tallow  chandlers   , 

3 

Hatters 

Thinners , 

5 

Gilder   

Weavers    

15 

Machine  makers 

Nailers   

...       2 
...       5 

Wire  worker   

CoflFee  mill  maker 

1 

1 

II 


[  161  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

These  latter  111  manufactories  employed  357  hands,  mak- 
ing a  total  of  259  factories  and  manufactories  employing 
1,637  hands,  with  an  annual  product  of  $2,266,366.00. 

There  were  also  ship  yards,  a  wool  carding  machine,  a 
screw  and  auger  manufacturer,  and  a  bedstead  and  spring 
manufacturer  which  were  not  noted  in  the  above  list. 

This  enumeration  made  a  deep  impression  throughout  the 
Western  country,  and  two  years  later,  in  1819,  the  me- 
chanics and  manufacturers  of  the  city  and  vicinity  organ- 
ized the  Pittsburgh  Manufacturing  Association,  the  object 
of  which  was  to  promote  and  invigorate  the  spirit  of 
domestic  industry.  Mr.  George  Sutton  was  elected  Presi- 
dent of  the  Association,  and  Mr.  George  Cochran,  chief  clerk 
or  agent.  A  large  brick  warehouse  was  opened  on  Wood 
street,  between  Front  and  Second  streets,  for  the  reception 
and  sale  of  the  various  articles  of  manufacture,  together 
with  such  other  merchandise  as  was  consigned  for  sale-. 
No  commission  was  charged  for  the  sale  of  articles  manu- 
factured by  members  of  the  Association.  Other  articles, 
such  as  country  produce  and  raw  materials,  iron,  lead,  wool, 
cotton,  sugar,  salt,  whiskey,  bacon,  hogs  lard,  butter,  cheese, 
flaxseed  oil,  hogs  bristles,  linen,  yarn,  and  rags,  as  well  as 
money,  were  taken  in  payment  for  manufactures.  At  the 
opening  of  the  Association  there  were  offered  for  sale: 
Axes,  adzes,  and  augers,  balances  patent,  bellows  smith, 
brushes,  buttons,  bridle  bits,  and  bridles,  blank  books, 
biscuit  and  crackers,  castings,  copper  stills,  counter  weights, 
castor  frames  and  crewets,  chairs  and  cabinet  ware,  cutlery, 
coffee  mills,  domestic  cloth  and  cord,  cassinet  and  shawls, 
drawing  chains,  edged  tools,  furniture  mounting,  grind- 
stones, window  glass,  8x10,  10x12,  11x18,  gun  barrels, 
hackles,  hatchets  and  hose,  hammers,  hats,  bar  and  rolled 
iron,  nails,  patent  plows,  and  mould  boards,  planes,  paper 
No.  1,  2,  3,  etc.,  plated  bridle  bits,  stirrup  irons,  bridle 
mounting,  shot,  men's  and  women's  saddles,  scale  beams, 
steelyards,  saw  mill  irons,  soap,  shovel  and  tongs,  tobacco, 
tin  ware,  copper  and  iron  teakettles,  tacks  and  springs, 
coach,  gig  and  riding  whips  at  Philadelphia  prices,  recti- 
fied and  common  whiskey,  waffle  irons,  wire  work,  with  a 
variety  of  articles  manufactured  in  Pittsburgh  not  enu- 

[  162  ] 


PITTSBURGH  ABOUT   1825;   FROM  AN  OLD  DINNER     PLATE,    MADE    BY    CLEWS    OF 
STAFFORDSHIRE,    ENGLAND. 


THE  MUNICIPALITY 

merated  above.  It  is  recorded  tliat  this  Association  handled 
annually,  for  many  years  after  1823,  sixty  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  Pittsburgh  manufactures,  and  a  ten  per  cent,  divi- 
dend was  declared  yearly;  however,  its  day  of  usefulness 
ceased  with  the  development  of  commercial  methods,  and 
other  organizations  took  its  place. 

At  this  time  an  added  impetus  was  given  to  the  already 
important  iron  industry  by  the  erection  of  the  Union  Rolling 
Mill,  in  1819,  by  Baldwin,  Robinson,  McKnickle  and  Beltz- 
hoover,  on  the  bank  of  the  Monongahela.  There  are  extant 
some  accounts  of  ''  rolling  mills  "  and  ''  rolling  and  slitting 
mills  ' '  in  Pittsburgh  previous  to  this  date ;  but  Swank,  the 
high  authority  on  the  iron  and  steel  industry  of  the  United 
States,  has  failed,  either  to  locate  these  enterprises  or  to 
verify  the  accounts  of  them,  which  in  most  cases  read  that 
such  and  such  a  firm,  or  person  ' '  will  ' '  erect  a  rolling  mill, 
or  that  "  there  is  being  erected  a  most  powerful  steam 
engine  *  *  *  which  puts  into  operation  a  Rolling-Mill, 
a  Slitting-Mill  and  a  Tilt-Hammer. "  The  last  is  the  notice 
which  appeared  in  the  Navigator,  concerning  Christopher 
Cowan's  so-called  rolling  mill  in  1812.  But  according  to 
Swank,  prior  to  1816,  the  Pennsylvania  rolling  mills  neither 
"  puddled  iron  nor  rolled  bar  iron,  but  rolled  only  sheet 
iron  and  nail  plates  from  blooms  hammered  under  a  tilt- 
hammer."  This  was  doubtless  the  character  of  Cowan's 
mill.  Nevertheless,  to  Penns3dvania  belongs  the  credit  of 
erecting  the  first  rolling  mill  in  the  United  States  to  puddle 
iron  and  roll  iron  bars,  and  this  was  built  by  Isaac  Meason 
at  Plumsock,  near  Brownsville,  Fayette  county,  and  put 
into  operation  in  1817,  two  years  previous  to  the  erection  of 
the  Union  rolling  mills.  Other  rolling  mills  were  built  in 
Pittsburgh  at  close  intervals,  following  the  erection  of  the 
Union  Mill.  In  1821  William  B.  Hays  and  David  Adams, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Hays  and  Adams,  built  the  Grant's 
Hill  Rolling  Mill  near  the  site  of  the  present  Court  House. 
In  1824  Dr.  Peter  Schoenberger  built  the  Juniata  Iron 
Works  on  the  bank  of  the  Allegheny  at  the  foot  of  what  is 
now  Fifteenth  street.  ( Schoenberger 's  Juniata  of  Alle- 
gheny was  built  in  1827.)  The  Sligo  Rolling  Mill  was  built 
by  Robert  T.  Stewart  and  John  Lyon  in  1825,  and  in  the 

[  163  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

same  year  George  Lewis  and  Reuben  Leonard  built  a  rolling 
mill  in  tJie  suburb,  Kensington,  on  tlie  Monongaliela.  Of 
the  rolling  mills  in  Pittsburgh  in  1826,  according  to  Cramer, 
not  less  than  four  were  capable  of  making  iron  from  the 
pig,  beside  rolling  and  slitting. 

The  toAvn  was  essentially  a  manufacturing  center,  supply- 
ing, to  a  great  extent,  the  Western  countiy  with  the 
products  of  home  industry.  After  the  removal  of  the  double 
duties  on  imports  which  had  held  during  the  war  of  1812, 
a  reaction  set  in  and  resulted  in  the  enactment  of  the  tariff 
law  of  1816.  But  the  protection  which  it  was  hoped  this 
law  would  insure  proved  a  great  disappointment  to  the  man- 
ufacturing interests  of  the  country,  as  foreign  traders  con- 
trived to  evade  the  laws  in  various  ways.  The  depression 
which  followed  was  widespread,  and  the  tariff  continued  to 
be  the  dominant  question  before  Congress.  Daniel  Webster 
disputed  the  cause  of  the  distress  and  attributed  it  to  the 
' '  over-expansion  and  collapse  of  the  paper  system. ' '  After 
a  protracted  contest  in  both  houses  of  Congress,  a  new  law 
governing  the  tariff  was  enacted  in  1824,  reversing  the 
earlier  system,  by  making  protection  the  object  of  the  law, 
and  revenue  the  incident.  During  this  period  of  agitation, 
many  of  the  industries  of  Pittsburgh  were  suspended; 
property  values  and  prices  of  domestic  products  sank  to  a 
very  low  point;  the  condition  became  one  of  complete  stag- 
nation, but  the  fresh  impetus,  due  to  the  new  protective 
tariff,  revived  business  and  moved  the  city  again  to  the 
front  in  the  commerce  and  industry  of  the  country. 

The  iron  business  constituted  the  major  part  of  the  in- 
dustry here  at  this  time.  In  the  Jones  compilation  of  the 
manufactures  of  Pittsburgh,  published  in  1826,  there  are 
noted,  in  addition  to  the  rolling  mills  mentioned  above,  the 
Pine  Creek  Rolling  Mill,  situated  a  few  miles  above  Pitts- 
burgh, the  McClurg,  Jackson,  Phoenix,  Stackhouse,  Alle- 
gheny, Stackhouse^ — Thornberg,  Price's  and  the  Birming- 
ham foundries.  Among  the  nail  factories  are  mentioned, 
the  Union  Rolling  Mill  Co.,  Sligo  Nail  Factory,  Grant's  Hill 
Nail  Factory,  Juniata,  and  the  Pine  Creek  Nail  Factory. 
Of  steam  engine  manufactories  there  were  six:  The  Co- 
lumbian Steam  Engine  Co.,  Warden  and  Arthur's,  Stack- 

[  164  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

house  and  Thornberg's,  Brown  and  Binney's,  M.  B.  Belk- 
nap's, the  Pine  Creek  and  Mahlon  Rogers'.  There  were  six 
cotton  factories:  James  Arthur  and  Sons',  The  Phoenix, 
John  Mcllroy's,  James  Shaw's,  and  Thomas  Graham's. 
Near  Pittsburgh  was  the  factory  of  Tilford  and  Sons,  which 
manufactured  stripes,  plaids,  etc.,  also  cassinets  and 
woolens.  Beside  these  there  were  forty-seven  looms  en- 
gaged in  various  kinds  of  weaving,  such  as  coverlets, 
carpets,  linens  and  cotton  cloth.  The  woolen  manufactures 
were  somewhat  limited.  James  Arthur  and  Sons,  in  con- 
nection with  their  cotton  factory,  also  carried  on  the  manu- 
facture of  woolens,  making  broadcloths  and  cassinets,  and 
Hendrick  and  Gibb  also  made  woolens,  their  machinery 
being  driven  by  hand  power.  Pittsburgh,  even  at  this  time, 
enjoyed  what  was  termed  "  an  enviable  reputation  "  in  the 
manufacture  of  glass.  The  glass  of  Pittsburgh  was  known 
and  sold  from  Maine  to  New  Orleans,  and,  it  was  stated, 
"  even  the  Mexicans  quaff  their  beverages  from  beautiful 
white  flint  glass  made  in  Pittsburgh."  There  were,  the 
Pittsburgh  Glass  Works  on  the  south  side,  opposite  the 
Point,  conducted  by  Mr.  F.  Lorenz  —  these  were  the  works 
established  by  O'Hara  and  Craig  —  and  the  Glass  Works  of 
Bakewell,  Page  and  Bakewell,  situated  on  Water  street, 
just  above  Grant;  of  these  famous  houses,  mention  has 
been  made  on  a  previous  page,  and  the  Stourbridge  Glass 
Works  on  Second  street.  This  house  was  owned  by  Mr. 
^  John  Robinson,  and  manufactured  white  and  flint  glass 
only.  Paper  manufacturing  was  also  carried  on  here,  and 
in  the  vicinity,  to  a  considerable  extent.  There  were  nine 
mills,  four  of  which  were  in  Pittsburgh  proper ;  the  Anchor 
Paper  Mill,  owned  by  Mr.  Henry  Holdship  and  situated  at 
the  corner  of  Ross  and  Brackenridge  street  was  the 
largest  paper  manufacturing  establishment  west  of  the 
Alleghenies.  Auother  mill  worthy  of  note  was  the 
Pittsburgh  Steam  Paper  Mill  owned  by  J.  Patterson  & 
Co.,  and  located  in  the  Northern  Liberties.  Flour  was  man- 
ufactured extensively,  both  in  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny, 
by  four  steam  mills.  Among  the  prominent  ones  may  be 
mentioned  the  Evans  Mill,  the  first  erected  in  Pittsburgh; 
the  Eagle,  established  by  Anthony  Beelen,  but  at  this  time 
owned  by  Mr.  Henderson.    This  mill  made  3,500  barrels  of 

[  165  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

flour  per  year,  besides  a  large  amount  of  feed.  Sutton  and 
McKnickle's  Birmingham  Mill  was  well  known,  as  was  also 
the  Allegheny  Steam  Mill,  established  by  William  Anderson 
and  owned  by  John  Herron,  Nearly  all  these  mills  fur- 
nished power  for  other  branches  of  manufacturing.  The 
Evans  mill  had  attached  to  it  a  plow  factory;  Herron 's  saw 
mill  was  connected  with  his  flour  mill  in  Allegheny,  and 
there  was  a  turning  and  boring  mill  at  Sutton  and  Mc- 
Knickle's Birmingham  mill.  In  addition  to  the  industries 
noted  above,  there  were  tv/enty-f  our  smitheries  which  made 
various  kinds  of  tools,  such  as  shovels,  axes,  etc.  The 
leather  industry  was  divided  among  nine  tanneries.  The 
more  important  were  owned  by  Hays,  Caldwell  and  Peters ; 
Thompson,  Brown  and  McCaddon;  Bayard  and  Sample; 
and  Robert  Mcllhinny.  Saddlery  was  manufactured  ex- 
tensively by  John  Little  and  by  Hanson,  Brice  and  Plum- 
mer  and  Co.,  the  latter  firm  conducting  two  establishments. 
Many  other  industries  receive  more  or  less  mention  in  this 
compilation  which  is  too  exhaustive  to  give  in  detail  here. 
They  are  included  in  the  subjoined  complete  list  of  indus- 
tries and  the  value  of  their  product. 

INDUSTRY  Value  of  Products. 

Iron $559,000 

Nails 309,000 

Castings 132,610 

Steam  engines 152,800 

Cotton  goods   200,488 

Woolen  goods 33,667 

Glass    131,804 

Paper  82,400 

Brass,  tin  and  copper  ware 73,000 

Smitliwork  and  other  metallic  manufactures.  .  82,000 

Woodwork   177,000 

Spirituous  and  malt  liquors 60,000 

Flour    36,000 

Boards,  brick  and  stone 37,500 

Leather,  shoes  and  saddlery 236,000 

Potteries 6,180 

Ropes,  twines,  etc 15,000 

Tobacco,  cigars  and  snuff 53,000 

Wire  work   10,000 

Salt 8,000 

White  lead   23,100 

Miscellaneous  manufactures 135,000 

Total    $2,553,549 

[   166   ] 


THE  MUNICIPALITY 

The  attention  of  the  outside  world  was  becoming  more 
and  more  attracted  to  this  inland  hive  of  industry,  and  the 
visits  of  distinguished  travellers  multiplied.  The  year  1825 
was  notable  for  the  visit  of  General  Lafayette,  the  friend 
of  the  Americans  in  their  struggle  for  independence.  In 
honoring  this  distinguished  hero  the  enthusiasm  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Pittsburgh  made  the  event  one  of  unusual  promi- 
nence. The  General,  with  his  family,  arrived  in  town  —  or 
rather,  at  Braddock's  Field,  the  home  of  George  Wallace, 
Esq.  —  from  Elizabethtown  via.  barge  on  the  Monongahela. 
He  was  met  by  a  Committee  on  Arrangements,  Captain 
Murray's  troop  of  Light  Dragoons,  and  some  prominent 
citizens,  all  of  whom  tendered  to  him  a  cordial  greeting  and 
the  freedom  of  the  city.  He  spent  the  day  in  viewing  the 
Arsenal,  the  manufactories  of  the  city  and  other  points  of 
interest.  His  headquarters  were  at  Darlington's  Hotel, 
where  he  received  the  crowd  of  admiring  visitors,  many  of 
whom  were  Revolutionary  veterans,  his  compatriots  in 
arms.  Addresses  were  made  by  Hon.  Charles  Shaler  and 
others.  These  were  followed  in  the  evening  by  a  grand 
ball  at  Colonel  Ramsey's  and,  the  next  day,  by  a  visit  from 
the  school  children  of  the  city,  a  public  dinner  given  by 
Colonel  Ramsey  and  further  visits  to  the  manufactories. 
At  the  Pittsburgh  Glass  Works  of  Bakewell,  Page  and 
Bakewell,  he  was  presented  with  two  large  cut  glass  vases 
which  had  been  made  especially  for  the  occasion.  On  the 
morning  of  the  third  day,  accompanied  by  Harmar  Denny 
and  Charles  H.  Israel,  Esq.,  he  departed  for  Erie,  escorted 
out  of  town  by  the  Light  Dragoons  and  a  battalion  of  Pitts- 
burgh Volunteers. 

The  need  for  public  improvements  resulted,  during  the 
years  1824  to  1830,  in  the  passing  of  several  ordinances, 
some  of  which,  however,  did  not  materialize  until  several 
years  later,  and  then  only  after  the  enactment  of  other 
ordinances  for  the  same  purposes.  Ordinances  were  en- 
acted for  the  construction  of  water  works  and  authorizing 
loans  for  the  same,  February  sixteenth,  1824;  February 
sixth,  1826 ;  October  twenty-ninth,  1827,  and  June  thirtieth, 
1828.  The  works  were  first  put  into  operation  in  December 
of  1828 ;  but  owing  to  the  weakness  of  the  mains,  frequent 

[  167  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

repairs  were  necessary,  and  it  was  not  until  the  following 
year  that  they  became  measurably  satisfactory.  Previous 
to  the  installation  of  the  water  works,  public  and  private 
wells  and  one  horse  water  carts  were  the  sources  of  supply. 
There  was  an  ordinance  passed  in  1826,  prohibiting  the 
erection  of  wooden  buildings  within  certain  limits,  and  ordi- 
nances for  the  construction  of  city  gas  works  were  passed 
in  1827,  1829;  but  it  was  not  until  after  the  ordinance  of 
April  thirteenth,  1835,  that  work  was  actually  begun  on  the 
plant,  wliich,  after  two  years,  was  completed  and  the  city 
was  first  lighted  with  gas  April  fifth,  1837.  Experiments 
in  gas  lighting  had  been  made,  however,  in  1829,  when 
Lambdin's  Museum  and  Gallery  of  Paintings  (established 
1828)  was  lighted  with  gas. 

The  year  1826  witnessed  the  passage  of  the  Bill  authoriz- 
ing the  Pennsylvania  Canal,  and  the  completion,  at  an  op- 
proximate  cost  of  $183,092.00,  of  the  State  Prison  in  Alle- 
gheny county  in  accordance  with  the  Act  of  March  third, 
1818.  The  commissioners  named  for  the  prison  were: 
James  Ross,  Walter  Lowrie,  David  Evans,  William  Wilkins 
and  Dr.  George  Stevenson.  The  plot  upon  which  the  prison 
was  built  was  donated  by  the  town  of  Allegheny,  and  was 
situated  at  what  is  now  Sherman  avenue  and  the  City  Park, 
on  or  near  the  site  of  the  present  conservatory.  The 
architecture  of  this  building  was  classic,  and  its  demolition 
has  always  been  deplored  by  the  better  element  of  the  com- 
munity, as  it  could,  with  credit,  have  been  converted  to 
other  public  purposes.  It  was  built  of  stone  in  the  Norman 
style  of  architecture,  with  circular  towers  at  each  end  of 
the  facade,  and  presented  a  most  pleasing  sight  from  every 
point  of  view. 

The  rapid  development  of  the  West  increased  the  neces- 
sity for  more  and  better  means  of  conununication  from  the 
seaboard  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Ohio.  Lake  Erie  was 
now  connected  with  the  Hudson  river  by  the  Erie  Canal, 
and  it  was  the  deflection  of  western  trade  through  New 
York  State  that  roused  Pennsylvania  to  a  realization  of  the 
importance  of  quicker  and  cheaper  transportation  across 
the  State.  In  the  achievement  of  the  Pennsylvania  Canal, 
connecting  the  Ohio  and  Delaware  rivers,  Pittsburgh  was 

[  168  ] 


THE  MUNICIPALITY 

^' again  represented  by  lier  leading  citizens  on  the  Board  of 
/  Canal  Commissioners,  appointed  by  the  Governor,  in  1825, 
/    for  the  purpose  of  making  surveys  for  canals  in  Pennsyl- 
I    vania  and  to  superintend  their  construction.     These  com- 
missioners were  William  Darlington,  John  Sargent,  Robert 
Parkinson,  David  Scott  and  Abner  Lacock.     The  Act  of 
I'ebruary  twenty-fifth,  1826,  authorized  the  "  commence- 
ment of  the  canal  to  be  constructed  at  the  expense  of  the 
\   state."     The  Western  section  was  complete  and  the  first 
boat  entered  Pittsburgh  on  the  tenth  of  November,  1829. 
Subsequent  acts  provided  for  the  various  sections,  includ- 
ing the  Portage  Railroad  over  the  mountains,  and  a  few 
years  later,  the  sixteenth  of  April,  1834,  a  through  line  from 
the  coast  was  in  operation.  Freight  rates  from  Philadelphia 
to  Pittsburgh  were  lowered  about  sixty-six  and  two-thirds 
per  cent. 

The  Portage  Railroad  was  begun  by  the  State  in  1831, 
and  was  opened  as  a  public  highway  upon  the  completion  of 
the  canal,  as  has  been  said.  It  was  the  wonder  of  all  civil 
engineers  at  home  and  abroad  for  many  years.  It  com- 
prised eleven  levels  or  grade  lines  and  ten  incline  planes, 
five  on  each  side  of  the  mountain,  and  was,  from  Johnstown 
to  Hollidaysburg,  36.69  miles  in  length.  The  ascent  from 
Johnstown  to  the  summit  was  1,171.58  feet  in  a  distance  of 
26.59  miles ;  the  descent  to  Hollidaysburg  was  1,398.71  feet 
in  a  distance  of  10.10  miles.  Engines  of  thirty-five  horse- 
power, built  in  Pittsburgh,  were  used  to  haul  the  cars,  four 
at  a  time,  up  the  planes.  The  rails  used  were  made  in 
Great  Britain  and  cost  $4-0.51  per  ton.  delivered  in  Phila- 
delphia. This  road  cost  the  State  $1,634,357.69,  and  was  in 
use  about  twenty  years,  when  it  was  superceded  by  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad,  which  ran  over  the  mountains  with- 
out the  use  of  the  planes.  During  its  first  year  the  Portage 
Railroad  carried  fifty  thousand  tons  of  freight  and  twenty 
thousand  passengers.  The  passenger  fare  from  Pittsburgh 
to  Philadelphia,  by  the  Canal,  Portage  Railroad  and  the  Co- 
lumbia Railroad,  was  twelve  dollars,  and  the  trip  consumed 
three  days  and  nineteen  hours. 

The  canal  entered  Pittsburgh  from  Allegheny  by  an 
aqueduct.    The  "  Basin,"  as  it  was  called,  at  what  is  now 

[  169  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Eleventh  street  and  Penn  avenue,  was  the  final  point  of  dis- 
tribution and  collection  for  freight  and  passengers.  The 
warehouses  of  the  transportation  companies  were  located 
along  ' '  slips ' '  or  branches  leading  from  the  Basin.  The 
main  canal  extended  to  tlie  Monongahela  through  a  tunnel 
which  entered  Grant's  Hill  near  the  corner  of  Grant  and 
Seventh  streets  and  emerged  near  Try  street. 

The  manufacturing  interests  of  Pittsburgh  and  vicinity 
continued  to  multiply  in  the  marvelous  industrial  growth 
of  the  country.  The  tariff  policy  of  the  government  ' '  pro- 
tection, the  object  and  revenue  the  incident  of  the  law  "  had 
worked  well  with  the  majority  of  the  industries;  but  the 
woolen  manufacturers  did  not  prosper  in  competition  with 
foreign  goods,  and  when  they  began  to  clamor  for  more  pro- 
tection, all  the  manufacturers  of  Pittsburgh,  supported  by 
the  citizens,  the  press  and  the  State  Legislature,  took  an 
active  part  in  the  general  demand  for  a  higher  tariff.  The 
"  Tariff  of  Abominations  "  of  1828  was  the  direct  result, 
and  its  provisions  for  the  protection  of  the  manufacturing 
interests  of  the  North  were  extreme. 

Allegheny,  Birmingham,  Northern  Liberties  and  the 
lesser  suburbs  kept  pace  with  the  progress  of  the  city,  and 
on  the  fourteenth  of  April,  1828,  Allegheny  and  Birming- 
ham were  incorporated  into  boroughs,  and  the  following 
year,  on  the  twenty-third  of  April,  Northern  Liberties  be- 
came a  borough. 

Following  this,  an  Act  for  dividing  the  city  into  four 
wards  "  for  general  election  purposes  "  was  passed  by  the 
Legislature  on  the  fourth  of  December,  1829.  The  previous 
unequal  division  had  caused  "  great  inconvenience  in  con- 
ducting the  general  elections  of  the  city, ' '  and  the  Act  pro- 
vided, in  the  first  section :  That ' '  So  much  of  the  said  city 
lying  north  of  the  center  of  Liberty  Street  shall  be  one 
ward,  to  be  called  the  North  ward ;  and  so  much  of  said  city 
as  is  included  between  the  center  of  Liberty  and  Market 
Streets  and  the  River  Monongahela  shall  be  one  ward,  to  be 
called  the  West  ward;  and  so  much  of  said  city  as  is  in- 
eluded  in  the  following  boundaries  beginning  at  the  foot  of 
Market  on  the  Monongahela,  thence  up  the  center  of  Market 
Street  to  Fifth  Street,  thence  along  the  center  of  Fifth 

[  170  ] 


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--de^i 


THE  MUNICIPALITY 

Street  to  Grant,  thence  down  the  center  of  Grant  to  Fourth 
Street,  thence  along  the  center  of  Fourth  Street  and  the 
line  of  Farmers'  and  Mechanics'  turnpike  road  to  the  city 
line,  and  thence  to  the  river  aforesaid  and  down  the  same 
to  the  place  of  beginning,  shall  be  called  the  South  ward, 
and  so  much  of  said  city  as  lies  east  of  the  center  of  Liberty 
Street  and  Fifth  Street  and  the  boundaries  of  the  South 
ward  above  named,  shall  be  one  ward,  called  the  East  ward. 
*  *  *  Section  two  of  this  Act  provided  for  election  in- 
spectors for  each  of  the  wards ;  section  three,  for  the  selec- 
tion of  judges  of  elections,  clerks,  etc.,  by  the  inspectors; 
section  four,  for  the  election  of  constables ;  section  five,  for 
fixing  by  Select  and  Common  Council,  a  place  for  holding 
elections." 

As  an  epitome  of  local  pride  in  the  substantiality  of  the 
city's  growth,  after  thirteen  years  in  municipal  dress,  and 
as  an  expression  of  the  people's  faith  in  its  future,  an 
excerpt  from  the  Statesmen  of  August  nineteenth,  1829,  is 
illustrative,  and  displays  the  same  characteristics  that 
have  been  ever  dominant  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  city  in 
industrj^,  science  and  the  mechanical  arts. 

*'  Our  city  at  this  present  moment,  has  better  prospects, 
and  more  substantial  and  diversified  objects  of  improve- 
ment, wealth  and  prosperity,  and  a  greater  certainty  of  the 
fulfillment  of  the  hopes  and  anticipation  of  the  citizens,  in 
relation  to  its  future  destiny,  than  at  any  former  period. 
We  have  an  active,  enterprising  population,  and  it  is  almost 
exclusively  of  the  laboring  and  productive  kind.  It  is  made 
up  of  manufactures  and  mechanics.  And  as  the  facilities  of 
intercourse  and  exchange  with  surrounding  neighbors  are 
increased,  and  they  are  daily  increasing,  it  gives  a  new 
incentive  to  industry  and  adds  to  the  amount  and  variety 
of  our  establishments,  and  increases  our  corporate  and  indi- 
vidual resources.  We  are  not  cursed  with  the  extremes  of 
poverty  or  wealth  —  none  are  so  rich  as  to  be  enabled  to 
neglect  the  personal  superintendence  and  management  of 
their  professions ;  and  few  so  poor  as  to  be  unable  to  pro- 
cure a  stock  sufficient  to  commence  some  business  that  is 
both  honorable  and  profitable, 

'  *  It  has  often  been  remarked  by  strangers,  that  they  have 

[  171  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

seen  no  place  so  entirely  free  from  drones  and  loungers  as 
Pittsburgh.  With  the  means  we  possess,  and  our  disposi- 
tion and  ability  to  use  them  to  advantage,  our  city  must 
continue  to  flourish  and  prosper,  even  though  we  should  not 
be  favored  with  any  artificial  or  adventitious  helps.  But 
when  we  contemplate  the  effects  of  the  public  works  now  in 
progress,  and  the  increase  of  trade  that  will  be  afforded  by 
their  progress,  as  well  as  by  their  completion,  it  is  impos- 
sible with  any  certainty,  to  predict  what  a  few  years  will 
add  to  our  commercial  and  manufacturing  interests,  or 
what  new  improvements  shall  form  a  contrast  to  those 
which  at  present  exist.  The  Pennsylvania  Canal  we  have 
for  a  certainty  —  boats  are  now  passing  and  repassing 
opposite  the  city.  The  Ohio  Canal,  by  means  of  a  lateral 
canal  from  the  Portage  Summit,  will  soon  pass  its  produce 
and  its  trade  to  this  city  and  through  the  channel  to  our 
state.  The  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  is  in  progress,  and 
we  have  at  least  a  fair  prospect  of  having  it  brought  to  our 
doors.  The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  is  also  in  rapid 
progress,  and  will  doubtless  be  approved,  and  receive  en- 
couraging enactments  from  our  Legislature  during  its  next 
session.  These  great  works  must  have  important  influence 
upon  the  condition  of  the  city,  and  cannot  fail  to  advance  its 
prosperity  beyond  the  hopes  and  the  anticipations  of  the 
most  sanguine  among  us. 

*'  The  present  moment  is  a  time  of  pressure,  and  we  have 
heard  forebodings  adverse  to  the  hopes  that  we  have  ex- 
pressed, and  prognostic  of  future  gloom  and  embarrass- 
ment; but  we  feel  a  confidence  amounting  almost  to  cer- 
tainty, that  the  progress  of  improvement  will  not  receive 
any  serious  or  permanent  check,  and  with  their  advance- 
ment Pittsburgh  must  rise. ' ' 


[  172  ] 


THE  MUNICIPALITY 

The  enumeration  of  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  and  vicinity, 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1830,  was  as  follows : 

Pittsburgh  — 

North  Ward 3,028 

East  Ward   3,184 

South  Ward 4,606 

West  Ward 1,750 

12,568 

Alleghenytown 2,807 

Bayardstown 2,018 

Birmingham,  along  the  south  bank  of  the  river  to  the 

mouth  of  Saw  Mill  Run 1,149 

Lawrenceville,  Pipetown,  Hayti,  East  Liberty  and  the 

remaining  part  of  the  township 3,919 

9,893 

Total  of  Pittsburgh  and  Environs 22,461 


/  In  1820  the  population  of  the  city  proper  was  7,248 ;  in- 
/crease  in  ten  years,  5,320,  or  seventy-three  per  cent. 

1830-1840.  ' '  Pittsburgh  is  a  manufacturing  town  which 
will  one  day  become  the  Birmingham  of  America."  This 
prophecy  was  being  fulfilled.  At  the  beginning  of  this 
decade  Pittsburgh  ranked  as  the  first  manufacturing  town 
in  the  Union.  Her  citizens  looked  back  with  pride  over  the 
solid  growth  that  had  been  accomplished,  and  to  the  future 
with  confidence  and  enthusiasm.  Her  public  men  in 
National  and  State  Legislatures  constantly  labored  for  her 
advancement.  The  State  spared  no  effort  to  maintain  and 
increase  the  advantages  of  this  natural  entrepot  between 
the  east  and  west,  the  north  and  south.  Commerce  in- 
creased by  means  of  the  State  roads,  canals  and  the  grow- 
ing steam  navigation  of  the  rivers.  Standing  in  the  midst 
of  an  immense  coal  formation  and  adjacent  to  an  abundance 
of  material,  manufacturing  thrived.  In  1835  the  manu- 
facturing and  commercial  business  was  estimated  at 
$15,000,000.00,  and  the  commission  and  forwarding  busi- 
ness, value  of  goods  arriving,  handled  and  passed  through 
by  wagon  and  boat,  at  $50,000,000.00. 

During  the  spring  of  1831,  four  or  five  stages  left  Phila- 
delphia daily  for  Pittsburgh,  and  in  1835,  from  Pittsburgh; 
there  were  four  daily  lines  of  stages  and  two  daily  canal 
packet  lines  to  the  east,  and  four  daily  lines  of  stages,  and 

[  173  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

one  daily  packet  line  to  the  west,  north  and  south.  But,  not- 
withstanding her  prosperity,  the  plans  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Frederick  Railroad  Company,  in  1831,  to  push  their  road 
further  inland  caused  a  great  deal  of  apprehension  in  Pitts- 
burgh, because  it  was  feared  that  traffic  bound  for  the  great 
west  would,  after  leaving  the  railroad,  be  deflected  to 
"Wheeling ;  therefore,  a  turnpike  from  Pittsburgh  to  Union- 
town  was  advocated  with  a  great  deal  of  earnestness  by  the 
newspapers  and  business  men,  as  was  also  the  improvement 
of  the  Monongahela  by  stackwater  or  otherwise.  But  there 
was  an  opposing  faction,  which,  while  they  were  always  for 
progress,  did  not  fear  the  railroad  as  a  competitor  of  the 
canals  and  turnpike  to  any  great  extent.  They  admitted, 
however,  that  railroads  would  ''  be  useful  to  carry  mails, 
passengers  and  valuable  light  goods  where  time  is  of  more 
importance  than  cost  of  transportation, ' ' 
j  Along  the  line  of  the  canal  were  many  thriving  villages, 
I  Tarentum,  laid  out  by  H.  M.  Brackenridge  in  1829,  Leech- 
\  burg  on  the  Kiskiminetas,  Saltsburg  and  many  others,  each 
the  center  of  a  rich  mining,  agricultural  or  lumber  region, 
all  paying  tribute  to  Pittsburgh.  Millions  had  been  spent 
and  millions  more  appropriated  by  National  and  State 
Legislatures  for  internal  improvements,  and  prophecies  as 
to  the  future  greatness  of  the  city  were  universal.  A  law 
granting  the  citizens  of  Pittsburgh  the  right  to  elect  a 
mayor  from  the  body  of  the  people,  instead  of  leaving  that 
privilege  solely  to  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  was  enacted  at 
the  1833-1834  session  of  the  Legislature.  A  great  deal  of 
attention  was  given  to  municipal  and  county  improvements ; 
the  opening  of  new  streets  and  street  paving  were  constant, 
and  the  protection  of  the  banks  of  the  rivers  from  the 
devastation  of  floods  was  attended  to,  after  the  inundation 
of  February,  1832.  The  plague  of  cholera  having  been 
brought  to  the  city  by  a  negro  from  the  south  in  October, 
1832.  a  Sanitary  Board  was  constituted  and  extreme  vigi- 
lance was  exercised  to  prevent  the  spread  of  the  disease. 
Several  druggists  dispensed  medicines  free  to  aid  the 
work  of  the  Board,  and  in  a  few  weeks  the  scare  was  over, 
less  than  forty  persons,  mostly  colored,  having  died. 
A  valuable  addition  to  the  resources  of  Pittsburgh  came 

[  174  ] 


THE  MUNICIPALITY 

in  1833 ;  a  well  was  drilled  on  the  south  side  of  the  Monon- 
gahela,  six  hundred  and  twenty-seven  feet  deep,  from  which 
seven  thousand  gallons  of  water  flowed  forth  every  twenty- 
four  hours  and  were  transformed  into  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
barrels  of  salt.  Many  other  wells  followed  and  salt  soon 
became  a  product  for  shipment. 

Many  noted  travellers,  both  native  and  foreign,  visited 
the  city,  among  them  Daniel  Webster,  who  came  in  1833, 
and  much  was  published  in  books  and  newspapers  of  other 
cities  concerning  the  wonders  and  industry  of  this  inland 
metropolis.  The  ceaseless  energy  of  all,  young  and  old, 
rich  and  poor,  left  its  deep  impress  on  all  who  came.  But 
there  was  also  entertainment,  social  and  public,  to  lighten 
the  strain;  out-door  amusements,  horse  racing,  etc.,  and  in- 
door diversions,  such  as  parties,  dancing  and  the  theatre, 
the  latter  being  so  well  patronized  that  a  new  theatre,  the 
Old  Drury,  was  built  and  opened  to  the  public  in  July,  1833, 
and  in  the  fall  was  open  every  evening. 

Progress  continued.  The  population  of  1830  had  in- 
creased nearly  one-half  by  1835,  but  the  lack  of  concerted 
action  relative  to  trade  and  commerce  was  regarded  as  a 
hindrance  to  the  best  growth  of  the  city,  and  resulted  during 
the  winter  of  1835-36  in  the  organization  of  the  Pitts- 
burgh Board  of  Trade  for  the  "  proper  direction  of  all 
commercial  movements,  to  encourage  and  extend  the  facili- 
ties of  transportation  and  generally  to  take  proper  meas- 
ures for  the  extension  and  regulation  of  the  trade  and  com- 
merce of  this  city."  The  next  year,  April  third,  a  charter 
was  obtained. 

In  accordance  with  the  State  Act  of  1834,  providing  for 
public  schools,  two  were  opened  in  1835,  and  by  1837  there 
were  five  public  schools  well  filled  with  the  children  and 
youth  of  the  city  and  suburbs.  By  Act  of  Legislature,  in 
1837,  the  four  wards  of  the  city,  instead  of  being  designated 
West,  South,  East  and  North,  were  numbered  First,  Second, 
Third  and  Fourth,  respectively,  and  the  borough  of  North- 
ern Liberties  was  incorporated  as  the  Fifth  Ward.  There 
was  a  local  insurance  company,  the  Pittsburgh  Navigation 
and  Fire  Insurance  Company,  to  protect  shipping  and  busi- 
ness.   The  city  was  lighted  by  gas  from  the  works  erected 

[  175  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

in  1836,  and  the  water  system  was  being  extended  yearly; 
a  new  court  house  and  jail  were  projected  and  their  erection 
begun  on  the  site  of  the  present  county  buildings.  The 
Court  House  was  completed  in  1842  and  the  Jail  (the  third) 
in  1843.  The  architect  of  this  Court  House  was  John  Chis- 
lett,  the  contractors,  Coltart  and  Dilworth.  The  building 
was  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  feet  in  length  by  one  hun- 
dred feet  in  breadth,  the  Jail  being  connected  in  the  rear. 
The  architecture  was  of  the  Grecian  order  with  a  massive 
double  portico  of  two  rows  of  fluted  pillars  in  front,  six  in 
each  row,  and  each  six  feet  in  diameter.  The  entablature 
and  pediment  were  bold  and  the  dome  graceful.  It  was 
built  of  polished  yellowish  gray  sandstone  obtained  from 
the  neighboring  hills.  The  building  consisted  of  three 
stories.  The  basement  was  vaulted  with  grooved  arches 
and  was  divided  into  ten  rooms,  each  thirty-two  by  twenty- 
five  feet,  for  offices  and  public  records.  This  part  of  the 
building,  at  least,  was  supposed  to  be  fire  proof,  but  all 
delvers  into  the  early  records  of  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny 
county  know  too  well  that  it  was  not.  The  principal  story 
had  a  central  rotunda,  sixty  feet  in  diameter  and  eighty  feet 
in  height,  from  which  led  out  four  court-rooms,  each  forty- 
five  feet  square,  with  two  jury-rooms  of  smaller  dimensions. 
The  height  of  the  building,  to  the  top  of  the  lantern  sur- 
mounting the  dome,  was  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  feet, 
the  dome  itself  being  thirty-seven  feet  at  its  base  and  sup- 
ported internally  by  seven  Corinthian  columns,  the  whole 
combining  strength,  simplicity,  lightness  and  grace  in  an 
unusually  agreeable  manner.  The  entire  building  covered 
an  area  of  seventeen  thousand  feet  and  cost  about 
$200,000.00. 

In  considering  the  general  development  of  Pittsburgh,  its 
industries,  commerce  and  transportation,  a  close  insepara- 
ble relation  to  the  tariff  and  monetary  legislation  of  the 
nation  is  obvious.  Her  fortunes  have  risen  or  fallen,  gen- 
erally, as  the  national  tariff  laws  have  been  favorable  or 
unfavorable ;  and  essentially  so,  as  her  products  must  come 
into  competition  with  like  products  of  foreign  output  at  a 
greater  or  less  advantage,  according  as  the  protection  inci- 
dent to  their  manufacture  is  increased  or  decreased.    Hence 

[  176  ] 


THE  MUNICIPALITY 

the  desires  and  needs  of  Pittsburgh  have  always  received 
important  consideration  in  forming  the  industrial  and  com- 
mercial laws  of  the  nation. 

Acknowledged  now  as  the  '^  Seat  of  Manufacture  in  the 
United  States  "  no  opportunity  for  more  secure  entrench- 
ment in  this  position  was  ever  allowed  to  pass.  Whenever 
a  movement  was  made  by  the  less  industrial  sections  to 
lower  the  protection  established  by  the  ''  American  Sys- 
tem," or  whenever  there  was  a  movement  against  internal 
improvements,  it  was  pounced  upon  and  fought  vigorously, 
from  every  conceivable  standpoint,  by  individuals,  corpora- 
tions, legislative  representatives  and  the  press. 

The  tariff  of  1828  developed,  in  the  Southern  States 
where  the  dominant  industry  was  agriculture,  the  Doctrine 
of  Nullification.  When  President  Jackson,  in  his  first  mes- 
sage to  Congress  in  1829,  declared  against  appropriations 
for  internal  improvements  and  began  his  war  on  the  United 
States  Bank,  he  was  stamped  at  once  as  against  the  manu- 
iifacturing  interests  of  the  country.  He  practically  re- 
iterated his  first  message  in  1830,  but  the  sentiment  in  Con- 
gress was  so  strong  against  him  that  several  bills  for 
internal  improvements  were  passed  and  received  his 
signature.  He  again  attacked  the  United  States  Bank  in 
his  message  of  1831,  and  recommended,  in  substance,  a  tariff 
for  revenue  only,  with  "  incidental  retaliation."  Pitts- 
burgh began  the  attack  against  a  lower  tariff  policy,  even 
before  Jackson  took  the  matter  up  in  his  message  to  Con- 
gress. The  memory  of  the  hard  industrial  condition  after 
the  enactment  of  the  tariff  law  in  1816,  and  the  promise 
for  the  future  under  the  existing  regulations  of  both  the 
tariff  and  monetary  systems,  stimulated  every  man  to  take 
up  the  fight.  One  of  the  most  important  of  the  "  tariff 
meetings  ' '  was  held  on  the  evening  of  October  twenty-first, 
1830,  when  a  number  of  the  prominent  manufacturers  and 
business  men  made  addresses,  and  elaborate  resolutions 
were  unanimously  passed.  The  causes  of  distress  were 
attributed  to  the  *'  influence  of  southern  politics  on  all  " 
that  was  dear  to  the  freemen  of  the  Northern  and  Middle 
States,  and  to  the  excessive  importation  of  foreign  manu- 
factures, which  acted  as  a  continuous  drain  upon  the 
12  [  177  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

monetary  resources  and  which  would  ever,  under  the  exist- 
ing monetary  system,  prevent  the  banking  institutions  from 
providing  a  metallic  currency.  The  formation  of  societies 
in  every  district  of  the  commonwealth  was  recommended, the 
members  of  which  were  to  pledge  themselves  not  to  buy  any 
article  of  foreign  manufacture  while  the  domestic  could  be 
procured.  The  principal  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  make 
industry  and  the  mechanical  and  useful  arts  the  test  by 
which  the  pretensions  of  public  men  and  candidates  for 
office  should  be  tried,  therefore,  a  '^  Working-man's 
Ticket  "  was  recommended.  A  committee  was  con- 
stituted to  publish  an  address  to  the  county,  setting  forth 
the  views  and  objects  of  the  citizens  assembled  and  to  act  as 
a  correspondence  committee.  Another  set  of  resolutions, 
unanimously  passed  at  the  same  meeting,  embodied  some 
of  the  points  mentioned  above,  and,  in  addition,  that  nothing 
would  restore  confidence  in  domestic  institutions  until  all 
hostility  to  American  credit  and  American  enterprise 
ceased,  that  it  be  recommended  tO'  the  next  Congress  that 
the  ' '  American  System  ' '  of  protection  was  the  ' '  only  and 
sure  passport  to  national  independence,"  that  all  party 
feelings  should  be  buried  in  one  common  grave,  that  Amer- 
ica was  the  inheritance  of  freemen  and  ' '  not  a  dependency 
of  foreign  merchants  and  manufacturers,"  and  that  the 
American  Press  was  guilty  in  the  highest  degree  in  per- 
mitting "  foreign  nations  to  take  possession  of  our  wealth 
and  independence  and  draw  from  us  millions  in  the  precious 
metals." 

President  Jackson  recommended  to  the  Congress  of  1830- 
31  that  each  item  of  the  tariff  be  considered  separately,  and 
it  was  well  known  at  the  close  of  the  session  that  the  Select 
Committee  of  the  Senate  on  Iron  was  to  push  the  matter 
to  procure  a  reduction  of  the  duties  on  iron.  This  was 
regarded  by  the  manufacturers  and  press  of  Pittsburgh  as 
dangerous  to  the  life  and  development  of  the  city  and  dis- 
trict, for  its  good  business  condition  and  healthy  growth 
were  attributed  to  the  protection  afforded  by  the  govern- 
ment to  industry  and  manufacturing.  Congress,  during  this 
session,  passed  a  tariff  law  which  was  expected  to  calm  the 
discontent  of  the  Southern  States.    This  tariff,  while  more 

[  178  ] 


THE  MUNICIPALITY 

moderate  than  the  tariff  of  1828,  was  highly  protective. 
The  purpose  was  to  reduce  the  revenue  without  reducing 
protection  —  to  reduce  duties  on  articles  not  competitive 
with  American  products,  but  on  all  others  to  make  competi- 
tion practically  prohibitory. 

The  new  tariff  failed  to  pacify  the  south  and  the  Doctrine 
of  Nullification  was  still  more  developed,  and  the  Ordinance 
of  Nullification  was  the  outcome.  As  the  protective  system 
was  left  without  material  change,  Pittsburgh  continued  to 
prosper. 

The  next  session  of  Congress,  1832-33,  took  up  the  tariff 
again,  and  Clay's  Compromise  Tariff  was  the  result.  It 
provided  for  a  gradual  reduction  of  the  tariff  of  1832  for 
ten  years,  after  which  duties  on  all  imports  were  to  be 
twenty  per  cent. 

But  the  period  of  unrest  continued.  The  cloud  of  an  un- 
settled monetary  and  banking  system  hung  over  the  country. 
President  Jackson  continued  his  insistent  war  on  the  United 
States  Bank.  He  even  expressed  doubts  as  to  its  solvency. 
Public  meetings  were  held  in  Pittsburgh,  recommending  that 
the  bank  be  rechartered  on  the  ground  that  this  great,  valu- 
abie  institution  was  intimately  connected  with  the  business 
and  prosperity  of  Pittsburgh,  and  was  of  importance  to  the 
internal  trade  of  the  country  for,  owing  to  the  fact  that 
gold  and  silver  had  practically  ceased  to  be  a  circulating 
medium  of  exchange  for  large  transactions,  it  facilitated  the 
activity  and  enterprise  of  all  lines  of  manufacturing  and 
commerce,  that  it  provided  a  substantial  and  uniform  cir- 
culating medium  for  the  whole  country,  and,  finally,  that 
desolation  and  bankruptcy  would  be  the  inevitable  result 
should  the  government  withdraw  the  extensive  circulation 
and  credits  of  the  bank.  These  meetings  were  encouraged 
and  their  efforts  supplemented  by  the  press,  but  the  bill  for 
rechartering  the  bank  was  vetoed  by  the  President  in  1832, 
and  the  next  year  he  ordered  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
to  remove  the  deposits  of  the  bank,  giving  as  his  reasons 
that,  "  the  bank's  funds  had  been  largely  used  for  political 
purposes,  that  its  inability  to  pay  all  its  depositors  had 
been  shown  by  its  efforts  to  procure  an  extension  of  time 
from  its  creditors  in  Europe,  and  that  its  four  government 

[  179  ] 


THE  HISTOEY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

directors  had  systematically  been  kept  from  knowledge  of 
its  management."  Tke  deposits  were  removed.  This  was 
denomiced  at  a  large  meeting  in  Pittsburgh  as  ^  ^  arbitrary, 
imjust  and  illegal,"  and  it  was  also  recorded  that  the 
"  severe  pecuniary  pressure  among  us  "  was  a  painful 
reality  which  all  felt,  and  which  was  due  to  the  combined 
operation  of  the  removal  of  the  deposits  to  various  local 
banks  of  unknown  solvency  (commonly  known  as  "  pet 
banks  "),  and  the  hostile  and  vindictive  spirit  which  accom- 
panied and  followed  the  act,  that  daily  experience  for  the 
last  twenty  years  had  convinced  the  citizens  of  Pittsburgh 
that  the  extensive  business  of  the  country  could  not  be 
transacted  without  a  bank  whose  operations  were  co-ex- 
tensive with  the  Union  and  of  undoubted  credit  and  sol- 
vency, and  that  the  great  distress  portended  an  ' '  awful  and 
eventful  crisis."  The  crisis  came  in  1837.  The  increased 
sale  of  public  lands,  which  were  bought  by  speculators  in- 
stead of  settlers,  were  paid  for  in  the  paper  of  the  various 
banks.  This  money  made  up  the  bulk  of  the  deposits  of  the 
United  States  Bank.  ^'  The  insanity  of  speculation  was  in 
ample  though  unobserved  control  of  the  country  while  the 
United  States  Bank  still  held  the  deposits."  The  removal 
of  the  deposits  deprived  business  men  and  firms  of  means, 
in  Pittsburgh,  as  elsewhere,  of  their  cash  capital  as  there 
were  no  facilities  for  prompt  exchange.  The  government 
refused  to  accept  anything  but  gold  and  silver  in  payment 
of  taxes,  etc.,  and  for  public  lands,  and  suddenly  demanded 
the  deposits  which  had  been  distributed  among  State  banks. 
Banks  everywhere  suspended  specie  payment,  ''  rag  cur- 
rency "  prevailed  and  the  panic  became  universal.  The 
questionable  value  of  the  rag  currency  and  the  scarcity  of 
specie  caused  the  city  to  issue  script  or  "  shin  plasters," 
which  circulated  generally  and  were  accepted  for  city  taxes, 
etc. 

The  recovery  was  slow,  but  Pittsburgh,  owing  to  her 
geographical  situation,  her  ability  to  manufacture  to 
the  best  possible  advantage  and  her  absolute  necessity  to  the 
development  of  the  west,  did  not  suffer  in  such  great 
measure  as  many  centers  farther  east.  It  may  be  of  interest 
to  state  here  that  the  value  of  the  manufacturing,  mining 

[  180  ] 


THE  MUNICIPALITY 

and  mercantile  business  of  the  Pittsburgh  District  of  that 
day,  according  to  Harris'  Directory  for  1837,  had  reached 
the  grand  total  of  $31,000,000.00. 

Transportation  by  water  assumed  more  and  more  im- 
portance toward  the  end  of  this  decade.  The  Pennsylvania 
canal  had  proved  such  a  pronounced  success  that  a  canal  to 
connect  Pittsburgh  with  Beaver  was  projected  in  1838,  and 
was  opened  for  business  in  1840,  and  agitation  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  Monongahela  by  slack  water  navigation 
also  was  vigorous.  The  beginning  of  the  movement  for 
improvement  of  this  river  dates  back  to  the  State  Act  of 
March  twenty-fourth,  1817,  incorporating  a  company  for 
lock  navigation.  Various  other  movements  for  the  same 
purpose  were  inaugurated  with  a  greater  or  less  measure  of 
success  during  the  succeeding  years ;  but  it  was  not  until  the 
organization  of  the  Monongahela  Navigation  Company, 
under  the  Act  of  March  thirty-first,  1836,  that  the  most 
important  advance  was  made.  A  charter  was  secured  Feb- 
ruary twenty-second,  1837,  with  an  authorized  capital  stock 
of  $300,000.00.  But,  from  that  time  on,  numerous  difficulties 
were  encountered,  in  the  way  of  raising  sufficient  funds  to 
prosecute  the  work,  and  otherwise.  The  State  had  aided, 
but  it  was  found  necessary  to  increase  the  capital  stock 
from  time  to  time,  in  order  to  complete  the  work;  an  in- 
crease of  $260,600.00  having  been  made  in  1848,  the  com- 
pany at  this  time  being  under  the  presidency  of  J.  K.  Moor- 
head.  Tolls  were  first  collected  in  1841.  (As  a  result  of  the 
strenuous  advocacy  by  coal  operators  and  transportation 
companies,  led  by  Captain  John  F.  Dravo,  the  government 
purchased  the  works  on  July  seventh,  1896,  for 
$3,761,643.00.  There  were  seven  dams  and  eleven  locks  in 
the  system.)  The  manufacturing  of  iron  steam  boats  and 
iron  canal  boats,  the  first  of  which,  The  Valley  Forge,  was 
built  in  1839  by  Robinson  and  Minis  and  Reuben  Miller, 
Jr..  and  contributed  largely  to  the  importance  of  river  and 
canal  transportation.  The  first  iron  canal  boat,  the  Ken- 
tucky, built  in  three  sections,  came  over  the  mountains  in 
1839.  In  the  year  1840  about  one  hundred  iron  boats  were 
made  in  Pittsburgh.  As  a  result  of  these  developments,  the 
coal  trade,  as  well  as  the  other  lines  of  commerce  and  in- 
dustry, rapidly  increased. 

[  181  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  decade,  from  1830  to  1840, 
^  *  The  Schemes  of  the  Abolitionists  ' '  or  the  National  Anti- 
slavery  Society,  organized  in  1853,  which  set  up  such  an 
agitation  throughout  the  Union,  excited  deep  feeling  in 
Pittsburgh.  A  party  which  stood  for  the  ' '  Integrity  of  the 
Union  "  held  meetings  and  denounced  the  propaganda  of 
the  Abolitionists  as  "  capable  of  evil  as  effectual  as  the 
worst  enemies  of  the  republic  could  wish,"  that  it  had 
' '  sown  wide  the  dragon  teeth  of  discord,  disunion  and  civil 
war,"  that  "  the  fanaticism  of  the  north  had  produced  fear 
and  frenzy  in  the  south, ' '  and  that  it  was  time  every  patriot 
who  had  retained  the  sober  use  of  his  faculties  should  "  step 
between  these  frenzied  factions,  allay  the  irritation  of  the 
south  by  showing  them  that  these  distant  bowlings  which 
their  fears  had  magnified  into  the  thunders  of  an  approach- 
ing hurricane,  proceeded  from  a  few  deluded  but  perhaps 
not  malevolent  persons  whose  ill  advised  efforts,  if  disre- 
garded, would  cease  to  be  dangerous  and  whose  hallucina- 
tions deserved  pity  rather  than  resentment."  Resolutions 
were  adopted,  acknowledging  the  right  of  the  people  of 
slavery  States  to  ' '  provide  their  own  remedy  in  their  own 
way,"  thus  maintaining  "  the  value  and  stability  of  our 
national  union,"  that  "  the  Federal  government  of  these 
United  States  had  no  more  constitutional  power  to  interfere 
with  the  relation  of  master  and  slave  in  the  southern  states 
than  that  of  husband  and  wife  in  the  northern  states,"  etc. 
From  that  time  on  to  the  crisis  of  the  Civil  War,  this  Society 
flourished  here  as  elsewhere. 

In  1840  the  population  of  Pittsburgh  proper  was  21,115, 
and  of  Pittsburgh  and  environs,  which  included  Allegheny 
(incorporated  as  a  city  1840),  Birmingham,  Lawrenceville, 
etc.,  was  38,931.  The  city  began  to  take  on  more  and  more 
the  air  of  a  municipality,  with  her  added  strength  of  indus- 
trial and  commercial  interests;  the  number  of  banks  in- 
creased; new  bridges,  the  Hand  Street  and  the  Mechanic 
Street,  spanned  the  rivers ;  additional  turnpikes  were  being 
constructed;  an  orphan  asylum  had  been  built  and  schools 
and  churches  multiplied. 

1840-1850,  The  Iron  City.  From  1840  Pittsburgh  was  to 
be  known  as  the  Iron  City.    The  increase  in  industrial  and 

'l  182  ] 


THE  MUNICIPALITY 

commercial  growth  and  wealth  had  continued  throughout 
the  country's  general  depression,  though  not  as  had  been 
hoped.  At  the  beginning  of  this  decade  there  was  confidence 
that  a  revival  was  at  hand,  but  the  year  passed  much  as 
had  the  preceding  two  or  three,  without  any  marked  ad- 
vance. The  prices  of  all  food  products,  as  well  as  manu- 
factured articles,  were  exceedingly  low.  Flour  was  $2.75 
per  barrel,  wholesale,  and  wheat  45  cents  per  bushel,  and  all 
other  farm  products  correspondingly  low.  The  Compromise 
Tariff  of  1833  still  being  operative,  with  its  gradual  reduc- 
tion of  duties,  and,  taken  in  conjunction  with  the  abnormal 
activity  in  trade,  speculation  in  public  lands,  the  absorption 
of  capital  in  building  and  internal  improvements,  worked 
havoc  among  the  manufacturing  interests  of  the  country, 
though  the  blame  for  the  existing  condition  was  laid  at  the 
door  of  the  tariff.  The  Gazette  proclaimed,  that  so  long  as 
we  remained  subject  to  foreign  influences,  without  the  self- 
protecting  guard  of  duties  and  restrictions,  "  so  long  we 
shall  be  subject  to  the  fluctuations  of  an  unstable  currency 
and  its  consequent  suft'erings,"  and  that  "  so  long  as  goods 
imported  by  British  manufacturers  and  sold  by  British 
agents  on  long  credits  and  heavy  security,  so  long  shall  we 
continue  to  go  in  debt. ' '  The  surplus  in  the  national  treas- 
ury had  vanished,  the  revenue  was  less  than  the  govern- 
ment expenses,  and  the  balance  of  trade  had  for  some  time 
been  against  us.  The  tariff  of  1842  was,  therefore,  enacted. 
It  provided  for  increased  duties  on  most  imports,  with  dis- 
crimination in  favor  of  certain  manufacturing  interests, 
and  the  long  looked  for  revival  came.  The  "  spirit  of  un- 
regulated speculation  "  had  been  superseded  by  cautious 
and  sure  judgment,  and  prosperity  became  more  general. 

A  general  summary  from  the  census  of  1840  of  the  in- 
dustry and  wealth  of  Allegheny  county,  which  was  becoming 
known  as  the  Pittsburgh  District,  conveys  a  sense  of  the 
importance  of  this  great  business  center,  sixty  years  ago. 

Of  the  entire  population  of  the  county,  (81,235)  607  of  the 
male  adult  population  were  employed  in  mining;  5.278  in 
agriculture;  914  in  commerce;  5,927  in  manufactures;  18  in 
ocean  navigation;  550  in  canal,  lake  and  river  navigation; 
and  360  in  the  learned  professions.    There  were  28  furnaces 

[  183  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

in  the  comity,  producing  6,584  tons  of  cast  iron ;  12  blooma- 
ries  and  forges,  producing  28,100  tons  of  bar  iron;  capital 
invested,  $1,931,000.00.  Bituminous  coal  was  mined  to  the 
extent  of  5,662,208  bushels;  capital  invested,  $146,525.00. 
Salt  manufactured,  36,875  bushels;  capital  invested, 
$48,500.00.  Machinery  manufactured,  $443,500.00;  hard- 
ware, cutlery  (exclusive  of  the  manufacture  of  small  arms 
and  cannon),  $341,500.00.  Total  capital  invested  in  man- 
ufactures of  iron  products,  $631,675.00.  Woolen  manu- 
factories, 5  fulling  and  5  woolen  mills,  value  of  goods 
manufactured,  $25,200.00;  capital  invested,  $17,850.00;  5 
cotton  manufactories,  value  of  goods  manufactured, 
$511,200.00;  capital  invested,  $580,000.00.  Mixed  manu- 
factures, $47,138.00;  capital  invested,  $25,592.00.  Manu- 
factured tobacco,  value,  $109,500;  capital  invested, 
$65,600.00.  Value  of  hats  and  caps  manufactured, 
$189,560.00.  Leather,  32  tanneries,  10,580  sides  of  sole 
leather  tanned  and  57,350  of  upper  leather;  capital  in- 
vested, $74,400.00.  Value  of  other  manufactured  articles 
of  leather,  $341,768.00 ;  capital  invested,  $177,025.00.  Soap 
manufactured,  493,600  pounds;  candles,  637,300  pounds. 
Liquors:  93,000  gallons  of  whiskey  from  14  distilleries; 
222,000  gallons  of  beers,  ales  and  porters  from  6  breweries ; 
capital  invested,  $163,600.00.  Drugs,  paints,  etc.,  value, 
$201,800 ;  turpentine  and  varnish,  value,  $3,675 ;  capital  in- 
vested, $246,300.  Griass  houses,  17 ;  glass  cutting  establish- 
ments, 9;  value  of  manufactured  articles,  $521,200.00;  capi- 
tal invested,  $604,000.  Confectioneries,  value,  $30,900.00; 
capital  invested,  $22,300.00;  4  ropewalks,  value  of  product, 
$108,000.00;  capital  invested,  $31,600.00.  Carriages  and 
wagons  manufactured,  value,  $203,450.00;  capital  invested, 
$71,000.00.  Boats  built,  value,  $103,110.00.  Furniture  man- 
ufactured, $249,400.00.  There  were  18  printing  offices,  77 
binderies,  4  daily  newspapers,  11  weeklies,  10  periodicals; 
capital  invested,  $98,000.00.  To  these  may  be  added  large 
numbers  of  flouring  mills,  produce  mills,  saw  mills,  oil  mills, 
and  paper  mills.  The  total  capital  invested  in  the  above 
manufactories,  $3,554,562.00, 

In  1842  there  were  six  daily  and  twelve  weekly  news- 
papers, beside  several  periodicals,  published  here.    Three 

[  184  ] 


THE  MUNICIPALITY 

of  the  Mowspapers  were  published  in  the  German  language. 
Three  bridges  crossed  the  Allegheny.  The  Monongahela 
was  spanned  in  1845-46  by  a  wire  suspension  bridge,  de- 
signed by  the  famous  Roebling,  and  means  of  communi- 
cation and  transportation  to  all  sections  of  the  country  con- 
stantly increased.  The  inhabitants  continued  to  maintain 
their  reputation  for  industry.  Many  men  of  that  day  owned 
the  furnaces  and  factories  in  which  they  once  worked  as 
laborers,  and  many  who  once  drove  drays  were  now  riding 
in  their  own  carriages.  The  examples  of  men  raising  them- 
selves by  their  own  efforts  to  positions  of  respect  and 
affluence  were  nowhere  more  numerous.  Faith  and  assur- 
ance were  also  among  the  chief  elements  of  character  in  the 
Pittsburghers  of  that  period;  but  a  catastrophe  which  to 
this  day  is  vividly  remembered  b}^  many,  visited  the  city, 
and,  temporarily,  at  least,  turned  all  hope  for  the  future 
into  a  gloom  that  verged  on  despair.  The  calamity  which 
wrought  the  change  was  the  great  fire  of  April  tenth,  1845, 
of  which  the  following  reliable  account  is  given : 

"At  five  minutes  past  twelve  M.  on  that  fatal  day,  a  fire 
broke  out  in  an  old  shed  on  the  east  side  of  Ferry  Street, 
corner  of  Second.  It  is  generally  believed  now  to  have 
originated  from  a  fire  built  in  the  yard  adjoining  it,  by  a 
washerwoman.  The  weather  had  been  '  parching  dry  '  for 
two  weeks  previous  to  this  time,  and  high  winds  had  been 
carrying  every  particle  of  moisture  from  the  buildings  of 
the  city,  so  that  they  were  like  timber  prepared  for  burning. 
It  was  in  this  state  of  things  that  the  tocsin  sounded  —  the 
bell  of  the  Third  Presbyterian  Church  was  struck. 

"At  the  very  first,  we  are  assured  by  an  eye  witness, 
there  did  not  seem  to  be  very  much  danger.  For  half  an 
hour  after  the  fire  broke  out,  the  wind,  which  had  been 
blowing  all  morning,  slept  in  a  propitious  lull.  If  there  had 
been  plenty  of  water,  it  is  this  gentleman 's  opinion  that  the 
fire  could  have  been  easily  put  out.  But  the  water  was  low 
in  the  reservoir,  and  the  first  efforts  of  the  fire  engines 
resulted  only  in  sucking  mud;  the  water  did  not  come.  It 
was  then  that  the  west  wind,  waking  from  the  noontide 
siesta  that  our  spring  winds  so  often  indulge  in,  arose  in 
his  might,  and  commenced  to  fan  the  incipient  flames  into 

[  185  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

a  mighty  fire.  And  it  was  then  that  our  city  woke  up  to  its 
true  danger.  As  soon  as  the  wind  fairly  arose  again,  the  fire 
started  forth  on  its  destructive  course  with  the  rapidity  of 
lightning.  It  fairly  licked  up  the  dry  wooden  frames  on  the 
west  side  of  Ferry  Street.  It  leaped  across  that  street  in 
different  directions,  but  its  most  serious  course  was  to  the 
Globe  Cotton  Factory,  opposite.  By  looking  carefully  at 
the  diagram  which  we  publish,  the  reader  can  trace  its 
destructive  track.  Commencing  on  the  corner  of  Ferry  and 
Second  Streets  it  crossed  Ferry  and  spread  out  like  a  fan 
of  flame  through  the  squares  to  the  eastward  and  south- 
ward. After  attacking  the  Globe  Factory  it  threatened  the 
Third  Presbyterian  Church,  which  was  only  saved  by  the 
tremendous  and  unremitting  exertions  of  the  people;  and 
nobly  were  those  exertions  rewarded,  for  by  saving  that 
church  at  least  a  dozen  squares  of  the  city  to  the  northeast 
of  it  were  saved  also.  A  little  light  square  on  the  diagram 
will  be  seen  representing  the  church.  The  fire,  turned  off 
in  this  direction,  progressed  diagonally  across  the  square 
bounded  by  Ferry,  Third,  Market  and  Second  Streets,  and 
about  equally  as  fast  up  the  entire  square  bounded  by 
Ferry,  Second,  Market  and  Front  streets.  After  crossing 
Market  it  extended  in  one  broad  wave  on  one  side  down  to 
Water  Street,  and  on  the  other  diagonally  up  to  Diamond 
Street  on  the  corner  of  Wood.  This  was  its  greatest  width. 
Between  Wood  and  Smithfield  the  wave  began  to  recede 
from  Diamond  Street  to  Fourth;  but  from  Smithfield  on- 
ward it  swept  along,  four  and  a  half  squares  broad,  until  it 
reached  Grant  Hill  and  the  canal.  Here  it  skipped  over  a 
number  of  frame  and  other  buildings  in  a  most  unaccount- 
able way  and  recommenced  devouring  everything  clear  up 
to  the  end  of  Pipetown,  or  Kensington,  as  it  was  then 
called  —  a  suburb  then ;  integral  part  of  the  city  now.  There 
it  was  arrested  by  the  dearth  of  food  to  satisfy  its  fierce 
appetite.  There  were  no  more  houses  in  that  direction  for 
it  to  burn,  and  the  Great  Fire  of  Forty-five  was  virtually 
over.  The  fire  began  at  noon,  and  at  seven  o'clock  in  the 
evening  its  fury  was  spent.  In  that  time  it  had  lain  the  best 
part  of  the  city  in  ashes  —  nay  in  the  two  hours  from  2  to  4 
P.  M.  the  greater  part  of  the  immense  destruction  was 
wrought,  such  was  the  rapidity  of  its  spread. 

[  186  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

*'  The  boundaries  of  the  burnt  district  may  be  thus  de- 
scribed :  From  Water  Street  up  Ferry  to  Third  Street  (the 
Third  Presbyterian  Church  was  saved) ;  up  Third  to  Wood; 
up  Wood  to  Diamond  Alley;  up  Diamond  Alley  to  Smith- 
field  Street,  and  thence  down  Smithfield  to  Fourth  Street; 
up  Fourth  to  Ross  Street,  and  thence  to  the  head  of  Pipe- 
town  —  including  twenty  squares,  and  comprising  from  one 
thousand  to  twelve  hundred  houses,  many  of  the  ware- 
houses containing  goods  of  immense  value;  they  were 
grocery,  dry  goods,  and  commission  houses,  and  their  stock 
had  been  just  laid  in.  The  space  burned  over  was  estimated 
to  cover  fifty-six  acres.  Twenty  squares  in  the  heart  of  the 
city  were  utterly  destroyed. 

^'  This  flourishing  suburb,  Pipetown,  was  well  nigh  an- 
nihilated. The  course  of  the  fire  was  extraordinary.  The 
last  large  building  in  the  city  this  side  of  it  was  the  new 
steel  works  of  Jones  and  Quigg.  When  the  fire  reached  this 
it  dipped  down  a  steep  bank  into  the  canal,  and  consumed 
the  lock-tender's  house,  and  then  rising  it  went  completely 
over  a  number  of  frame  buildings  on  the  opposite  bank, 
including  the  workshops  of  Mr.  Tomlinson,  the  contractor 
of  the  iron  steam  ship  on  the  stocks.  Parry  and  Scott's 
foundry,  the  Gas  Works,  the  Messrs.  Phillips'  glass  house, 
and  lighting  on  the  glass  works  of  Messrs.  Miller  &  Co., 
commenced  anew  with  the  utmost  fury.  It  took  everything 
from  thence  up  on  that  side  of  the  road.  About  half  way  up 
it  crossed  the  road  and  made  a  clean  sweep  of  all  between 
the  hill  and  the  river  to  the  utmost  end  of  the  town.  The 
greatest  loss  was  in  the  Dallas  Iron  Works.  With  very  few 
exceptions  all  the  inhabitants  were  operatives  in  or  de- 
pendent on  the  mills,  and  foundries;  and  by  this  calamity 
hundreds  of  them  were  rendered  houseless  and  homeless. 

*'A  committee  appointed  by  Councils,  after  a  full  exam- 
ination of  the  burnt  district,  arrived  at  the  following  esti- 
mate of  losses :  982  buildings  burnt,  valued  at  $1,500,000.00 ; 
personal  property  value,  $900,000.00;  total,  $2,400,000.00. 
Subsequent  estimates  of  the  total  loss  to  the  city  ranged 
from  $5,000,000.00  to  $8,000,000.00.  The  following  public 
buildings  were  totally  destroyed :  The  Firemen's  Insurance 
Office,  the  Fire  and  Navigation  Insurance  Office,  the  Penn 

[  187  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Insurance  Office,  the  Mayor's  Office,  Tombs,  Merchants  and 
Board  of  Trade  Reading  Rooms,  its  files  and  valuable 
library,  Philo  Hall,  all  in  one  building,  the  Bank  of  Pitts- 
burgh, the  Chronicle  Office,  the  Merchant's  Hotel,  Wood 
Street;  the  Eagle  Hotel,  Third  Street;  The  Monongahela 
House,  the  American  Hotel,  corner  of  Third  and  Smithfield 
Streets ;  the  Smithfield  Hotel,  corner  of  Second  and  Smith- 
field  streets ;  the  Associate  Presbyterian  Church,  on  Fourth 
Street;  the  Baptist  Church,  corner  of  Grant  and  Third 
Streets;  the  Western  University,  the  African  Methodist 
Church,  Second  Street;  the  Scotch  Hill  Market  House;  the 
Monongahela  Bridge  and  the  Custom  House. 

''  Relief  soon  began  to  pour  in  from  all  quarters.  The 
Legislature  appropriated  $50,000.00  to  meet  the  actual 
necessities  of  the  occasion,  and  remitted  the  taxes  for  State 
and  county  purposes  and  on  real  estate  in  the  burnt  district, 
and  released  the  business  men  from  the  payment  of  mer- 
cantile license.  Curious  to  relate,  Pittsburgh  Councils 
failed  to  donate  a  single  cent  to  the  sufferers.  The  total 
contributions  from  outside  sources  slightly  exceeded 
$199,566.00,  of  which  Pennsylvania  contributed  $109,890.00 ; 
New  Hampshire,  $329.00;  Massachusetts,  $16,741.00;  New 
York,  $23,265.00;  New  Jersey,  $557.96;  Maryland, 
$11,513.00;  Delaware,  $1,322.00;  District  of  Columbia, 
$2,872.00;  Ohio,  $10,081.00;  Michigan,  $100.00;  Kentucky, 
$5,773.00;  Tennessee,  $1,259.00;  Indiana,  $52.00;  Missouri, 
$3,883.00;  Alabama,  $1,652.00;  Mississippi,  $1,291.00; 
Georgia,  $470.00;  Louisiana,  $7,167.00;  and  Europe, 
$651.00. 

"  Thousands  were  forced  to  seek  shelter  that  night,  who 
had  removed  their  property  only  to  be  burned  in  the  streets 
or  pilfered  by  gangs  of  miscreants,  whose  dishonesty  no 
feelings  of  honesty  could  restrain  when  such  an  opportunity 
for  plunder  occurred.  More  than  2,000  families,  mostly  in 
comfortable  circumstances,  for  this  was  the  wealthiest  and 
busiest  part  of  the  city,  were  deprived  of  their  homes,  very 
few  having  even  a  change  of  linen. 

^'  There  were  but  two  cases  of  loss  of  life:  Samuel 
Kingston,  Esq.,  who  was  last  seen  going  into  his  residence 
near  Scotch  Hill  Market  to  remove  a  piano.    Confused  by 

[  188  ] 


GREAT    CONFLAGRATION    AT    PITTSBURGH    APRIL    IOtH.     1845. 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

the  smoke  lie  wandered  into  the  cellar  and  met  his  fate.  The 
remains  of  Mrs.  Malone  were  also  discovered  in  the  same 
vicinity. 

*'  The  city  insurance  companies  of  that  day,  the  Penn, 
Firemens,  Mutual,  Naval  and  Fire  paid  losses  amounting  to 
$79,800.00.  The  total  insurance,  home  and  foreign,  reached 
only  $870,000.00.  The  losses  of  some  individuals  ranged 
from  $5,000.00  to  $200,000.00.  The  list  of  business  firms 
burned  out  included  37  commission,  forwarding  and  whole- 
sale grocery  houses ;  6  druggists  and  chemists ;  5  dry-goods 
dealers;  4  hardware  merchants;  2  queensware;  2  book- 
stores ;  2  paper  warehouses ;  5  boot  and  shoe  stores ;  3  livery 
stables,  and  2  fire-works,  in  addition  to  a  large  number  of 
minor  establishments." 

Although  the  area  consumed  was  large,  not  all  the  busi- 
ness sections  of  the  city  were  destroyed.  Most  of  the  dry 
goods  jobbers,  hardware  merchants  and  other  large  estab- 
lishments escaped.  Commercial  prospects  were  prostrated 
but  not  permanently.  Some  even  lost  all  they  possessed, 
but  many  of  the  business  houses  affected  were  strong  finan- 
cially and  in  inherent  ability  to  cope  with  such  a  calamity; 
their  misfortunes  were  borne  with  fortitude  and  a  spirit 
which  enabled  them  to  recover.  The  absence  of  despair 
and  sullenness  and  a  disposition  of  the  afflicted  to  aid  one 
another  extended  to  all  classes. 

The  characteristic  enterprise  of  the  business  men  and 
newspapers  was  called  upon  to  combat  the  reports  spread 
abroad  of  the  total  ruin  of  all  business  —  manufacturing 
and  commercial.  Extras  were  circulated  to  all  parts  of  the 
country,  giving  the  exact  extent  of  the  devastation,  and  the 
preparedness  of  all  merchants  to  fill  orders  from  western 
and  country  buyers,  and  they  were  solicited  to  come  on  as 
usual.  But  there  was  a  scarcity  of  capital  with  which  to 
rebuild  the  destroyed  portions.  The  sudden  abstraction  of 
several  millions  was  not  easily  overcome.  The  banks  of  the 
city  could  not  supply  it,  and  eastern  moneyed  men  were  in- 
vited through  the  press  to  invest  in  Pittsburgh  enterprises. 
Capital  came,  and  the  city  was  soon  rebuilt  with  more  sub- 
stantiality than  before  the  fire.  Not  only  were  old  houses 
and  factories  rebuilt,  but  the  multiplicity  of  advantages  of 

[  189  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

a  location  in  the  ' '  Iron  City  ' '  induced  the  addition  of  many 
new  industries. 

A  fact  worthy  of  note  in  connection  with  the  great  fire  of 
184-5,  is  the  organization,  in  August  of  that  year,  of  the 
Firemens '  Association  of  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny  for  the 
purpose  of  "  promoting  good  order,  efficiency  and  har- 
mony "  in  the  Fire  Departments  of  the  two  cities.  It  was 
composed  of  The  Eagle,  Allegheny,  Duquesne,  Niagara, 
A¥ashington,  Vigilant  and  William  Penn  Engine  and  Hose 
Companies,  and  its  articles  of  Constitution  regulated  the 
equipment  of  the  companies  belonging  to  the  organization, 
chose  the  chief  engineers  and  assistants  and  defined  their 
authority  at  fires,  and  appointed  delegates  to  confer  with 
the  City  Councils  concerning  objects  of  the  Association. 
From  the  birth  of  this  Association  dates  the  increased 
efficiency  of  the  Fire  Department  of  the  two  cities. 

The  remaining  years  of  this  decade  were  crowded  with 
events  which  contributed  to  the  advancement  of  the  city. 
The  War  with  Mexico  established  Pittsburgh  as  an  im- 
portant manufacturing  point  for  munitions  of  war  and  as  a 
rendezvous  for  troops  and  supplies  on  their  way  south. 
Although  the  tariff  of  1846  reduced  the  duties  to  about  the 
standard  of  the  tariff  of  1833,  and  was  drawn  to  insure  a 
"  symmetrical  development  of  all  interests,"  it  decreased 
the  protection  to  manufacturers.  But  the  prosperity  of  the 
city  continued,  although  there  were  numerous  prophecies  of 
another  depression.  Doubtless  the  combined  influence  of 
world  events  was  responsible  for  the  growth  and  steadiness 
of  business  generally.  In  addition  to  the  War  with  Mexico 
there  was  the  great  famine  in  Ireland  in  1846 ;  and  the  short 
crops  of  Europe  in  the  ensuing  years;  the  European  Revolu- 
tion of  1848 ;  and  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California.  The 
new  water  works,  the  second  system,  were  put  into  opera- 
tion in  1844,  and  the  following  year  Daniel  Bushnell  suc- 
ceeded in  his  attempt  at  towing  coal  by  steam,  having  made 
the  trip  to  Cincinnati  with  the  Walter  Forivard  and  three 
barges  loaded  with  2,000  bushels  each.  Thenceforth  the 
market  for  Pittsburgh  coal  widened.  Real  estate  boomed, 
the  city  spread  out  over  the  hills  to  the  east,  new  wards 
were  added  —  making  a  total  of  nine  in  1849,  and  prices 

[  190  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

advanced  from  eighteen  to  thirty-five  per  cent,  according  to 
location. 

Tlie  last  days  of  December,  1846,  are  remembered  for  the 
opening  of  telegraphic  communication  with  the  east.  The 
first  message  sent  through  was  from  Adjutant-General 
Bowman  to  the  President  at  Washington,  and  was  as  here 
given : 

''  Head  Quarters  of  the  Pennsylvania  Militia, 

"  December  29,  1846. 

*'  The  compliments  of  the  Adjutant  General  Bowman  to 
his  Excellency  James  K.  Polk,  President  of  the  United 
States.  The  Second  Pennsylvania  regiment  will  be  organ- 
ized and  ready  to  leave  this  place  by  the  sixth  of  January. 
The  weather  mild  and  the  river  in  good  order.  Through 
the  politeness  of  H.  O'Keilly,  Esq.,  I  have  the  honor  con- 
ferred upon  me  of  making  the  first  communication  by  tele- 
graph west  of  the  Allegheny  mountains  to  the  President  of 
the  United  States  over  the  Atlantic  and  Ohio  Telegraph 
Line. 

''  G.  W.  Bowman." 

Immediately  afterward  the  line  was  extended  to  Cin- 
cinnati and  Louisville,  thus  placing  the  west,  as  well  as  the 
east,  in  closer  communication  with  Pittsburgh, 

The  splendid  new  and  commodious  Monongahela  House, 
which  had  been  two  years  in  building,  was  opened  in  the 
spring  of  1847  by  its  genial  proprietors,  James  Crossan  and 
Son.  It  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  former  hotel  of  the 
same  name  (opened  in  April,  1841),  and  there  was  no  hotel 
that  could  compare  with  it  west  of  the  mountains.  A  peti- 
tion was  circulated  calling  for  a  public  square,  and  steps 
were  taken  to  improve  the  morals  of  the  city.  Drunkenness 
was  noted  by  the  press  to  be  on  the  increase,  not  only  among 
employees,  but  among  those  who  belonged  to  the  upper 
walks  of  life.  Prize  fights  were  frequent  and  the  Sabbath 
was  generally  desecrated.  But  mention  of  the  prosperity  of 
the  city  became  more  and  more  frequent  in  the  press.  The 
river  traffic  expanded  and  the  Board  of  Trade  was  urged  to 
memorialize  the  State  Legislature  to  provide  a  Register  of 

[  191  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Exports  by  river.  The  board  was  also  urged  to  inaugurate 
means  which  would  make  it  possible  to  ascertain  the  full 
character  and  extent  of  the  business  done  in  the  district. 
The  health  of  the  city  was  remarked,  and  also  the  crowded 
condition  of  some  of  the  downtown  streets,  particularly 
Market  street.  The  inadequacy  of  the  canal  to  insure  regu- 
lar and  continuous  deliveries  of  freight,  both  to  and  from 
the  east,  was  a  subject  for  discussion,  and  the  need  of  better 
transportation  facilities  by  rail  was  advocated.  Also,  a 
committee  was  appointed  in  February,  1849,  to  prepare  a 
memorial  to  the  Legislature  for  the  incorporation  of  a  com- 
pany to  issue  stock  and  build  a  plank  road  to  Butler.  A 
Merchants'  Exchange  was  established  the  first  of  Septem- 
ber, 1849;  the  first  effort  in  this  direction  was  made  in 
1837,  but  it  did  not  meet  with  success. 

The  money  market  in  1848  became  unsteady  and  was  the 
source  of  much  uneasiness,  which  extended  into  1849,  when 
the  city  made  provision  for  the  redemption  of  its  scrip,  the 
large  issue  of  which  was  regarded  by  many  as  a  menace  to 
the  credit  of  the  city  and  the  welfare  of  its  inhabitants. 
Further  issue  was  prohibited,  and  by  the  sale  of  the  '^  Old 
Basin  "  lot,  corner  Fifth  and  (rrant,  and  the  substitution  of 
bonds,  the  bulk  of  it  was  called  in. 

Noted  public  men  continued  to  visit  Pittsburgh :  Henry 
Clay  arrived  in  the  spring  of  1848  and  was  warmly  received, 
and  in  August  of  1849  President  Taylor  came,  accompanied 
by  Governor  Johnston.  They  were  met  east  of  the  city 
when,  it  was  found,  the  President  was  using  as  his  con- 
veyance a  one-horse  open  buggy.  He  drove  to  Chalf ant's 
Hotel  where  the  Councils  and  citizens  were  drawn  up  to 
receive  him.  Attorney-General  Darragh  for  the  Common- 
wealth made  the  address  of  welcome,  which  was  responded 
to  by  the  President. 

The  census  of  1850  gave  Pittsburgh  proper  a  population 
of  46,601,  Birmingham  3,741,  East  Birmingham  1,624, 
South  Pittsburgh  1,883,  Lawrenceville  1,734,  making  a 
grand  total  of  55,583. 

The  1850  Directory  of  Pittsburgh  gives  this  summary  of 
the  manufacturing  interests  of  the  city  and  district: 

Thirteen  rolling  mills  with  a  capital  of  about  $5,000,000.00 

[  192  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

and  employing  2,500  hands.  These  mills  consumed  about 
60,000  tons  of  pig  metal,  and  produced  bar  iron  and  nails 
amounting  to  $4,000,000.00  annually. 

Thirty  large  foundries,  together  with  a  great  many 
smaller  ones,  having  a  capital  in  all  amounting  to  about 
$2,000,000.00  and  employing  not  less  than  2,500  hands. 
These  foundries  consumed  20,000  tons  pig  metal  annually 
and  yielded,  with  the  labor  employed,  various  articles 
amounting  to  about  $2,000,000.00. 

Two  establishments  manufacturing  locks,  latches,  coffee 
mills,  patent  scales,  with  a  great  variety  of  other  malleable 
iron  castings,  with  a  capital  of  $250,000.00  and  employing 
500  hands,  consuming  1,200  tons  pig  metal,  and  producing 
goods  amounting  to  $300,000.00  annually. 

Five  extensive  cotton  factories,  besides  many  smaller 
ones,  with  a  capital  in  all  amounting  to  about  $1,500,000.00, 
and  employing  1,500  hands;  these  establishments  consumed 
some  15,000  bales  cotton,  and  produced  yarns,  sheeting, 
batting,  etc.,  amounting  to  upwards  of  $1,500,000.00. 

Eight  flint  glass  manufactories  with  a  capital  of 
$300,000.00  invested,  employing  500  hands,  consuming  150 
tons  lead  and  200  tons  pearl  ash,  and  producing  various 
articles  of  glass  ware  amounting  to  $400,000.00.  There 
were  7  phial  furnaces  and  11  window  glass  manufactories, 
^ith  a  capital  of  $250,000.00,  employing  600  hands,  and  pro- 
ducing $600,000.00  annually. 

One  soda  ash  manufactor)^,  producing  1,500  tons  annually, 
employing  75  hands. 

One  copper  smelting  works,  producing  660  tons  refined 
copper  annually,  valued  at  $380.00  per  ton,  and  amounting 
to  $250,000.00. 

One  copper  rolling  mill,  producing  300  tons  sheeting  and 
brazier's  copper,  amounting  to  $150,000.00  annually. 

Five  white  lead  factories  with  a  capital  of  $150,000.00 
invested,  and  producing  150,000  kegs  lead  annually,  worth 
$200,000.00,  and  employing  60  hands. 

There  was  also  a  number  of  manufactories  of  the  smaller 
sizes  of  iron,  several  extensive  manufactories  of  ax;es, 
hatchets,  etc.;  spring  steel,  steel  springs,  axles,  anvils, 
vises ;  mill,  cross  cut,  and  other  saws ;  gun  barrels,  shovels, 

13  [  193  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

spades,  forks,  hoes,  cut  tacks,  brads,  etc. ;  an  establishment 
manufacturing  cast,  shear,  and  blister  steel,  and  files,  all 
said  to  be  of  a  very  superior  quality,  besides  a  great  variety 
of  manufacturing  establishments  not  enumerated  in  the 
above  list.  There  were  consumed  about  12,000,000  bushels 
of  coal  annually  in  the  manufacturing  establishments, 
valued  at  $500,000.00  and  an  equal  number  of  bushels  ex- 
ported to  the  lower  markets,  giving  employment  to  upwards 
of  4,000  hands.  After  a  careful  investigation  it  was  esti- 
mated that  the  value  of  the  manufacturing  and  other  lines 
of  business  amounted  to  $50,000,000.00  for  the  past  year. 

1850-1860.  The  apprehension  that  had  existed  for  the 
last  two  or  three  years,  of  another  revulsion  in  the  business 
world,  still  found  expression  in  the  first  years  of  this  decade, 
and  there  was  a  feeling  of  gloom  over  the  community  re- 
garding the  future.  Many  of  the  mills  closed  for  lack  of 
orders,  and  the  value  of  manufacturing  properties  de- 
creased, particularly  the  cotton  mills;  this  was  attributed 
to  the  low  tariff  of  1846.  However,  various  causes  were 
assigned  for  the  local  depression,  among  them  being  the 
stain  which  had  been  placed  upon  the  city  by  the  disgraceful 
administration  of  Mayor  Joseph  Barker.  He  had  been 
arrested,  convicted  and  sentenced  to  imprisonment  in  the 
county  jail  for  the  offense  of  disturbing  the  public  peace  by 
preaching  in  the  streets.  There  was  a  varied  difference  of 
opinion  concerning  the  legality  of  his  prosecution  and  pun- 
ishment. There  was  undoubtedly  a  strong  religious  element 
in  the  affair,  as  Barker  had  viciously  attacked  the  Roman 
church.  Governor  Johnston  pardoned  him,  and  he  was 
immediately  elected  mayor  in  January,  1850,  to  succeed 
John  Herron.  He  began  a  vigorous  war  against  the  saloons, 
and  against  the  inefficiency  of  the  police  committee,  and  his 
criticisms  of  the  City  Councils  were  constant  and  severe. 
By  his  order.  Bishop  O'Connor  was  arrested  on  the  com- 
plaint that  the  sewer  from  Mercy  Hospital  to  Stevenson 
street  was  a  nuisance,  owing  to  an  offensive  odor  which,  it 
was  alleged,  arose  from  it.  The  testimony  offered  to  prove 
the  allegation  was  not  conclusive,  but  the  mayor  fined  the 
Bishop  twenty  dollars,  which  was  paid,  as  Barker  would  not 
allow  an  appeal,  and  there  was  no  judge  in  town  before 

[  194  ] 


S'v  .ii 


THE   MUNICIPALITY 

wliom  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  could  be  brought.  His  eccen- 
tricities and  rashness  kept  him  constantly  in  trouble.  He 
was  arrested  twice  in  the  latter  half  of  October;  the  first 
time  for  assault  and  battery,  and  the  second  on  charges 
preferred  by  one  John  Barton  for  assault  and  battery  with 
intent  to  kill.  On  the  first  charge  he  was  held  in  two  thou- 
sand dollars  bail,  and  on  the  second,  three  thousand  dollars. 
He  was  tried  in  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  on  the 
charges  mentioned,  and  in  addition,  *'  misdemeanor  in  of- 
fice." The  verdict  was,  "  guilty  of  misdemeanor  in  office," 
"  not  guilty  of  assault  and  battery."  His  administration 
happily  ended  with  the  year. 

There  had  also  sprung  up  in  Pittsburgh  an  epidemic  of 
lawlessness  which  took  the  serious  form  of  incendiarism 
and  robbery.  Many  structures  were  burned,  including  the 
upper  or  Mechanic  Street  bridge  over  the  Allegheny,  in 
January,  1851.  "  House  after  house  was  burned  and  plun- 
dered; terror  reigned;  men  could  not  travel  after  dark 
without  being  knocked  down  and  robbed.  Those  who  were 
forced  to  go  abroad  after  nightfall  carried  arms  to  protect 
themselves."  New  police  were  appointed  by  Mayor  Guth- 
rie. A  large  number  of  arrests  were  made  and  law  and 
order  again  prevailed. 

Perhaps  the  chief  cause  for  despondency  over  the  city's 
prospects  was  its  bad  credit.  Favoritism  in  city  improve- 
ments had  reigned  for  years.  The  various  amendments  to 
the  charter  had  made  matters  worse  instead  of  better.  The 
city  was  made  to  pay  heavily  for  county  improvements  and 
for  city  improvements  which  should  have  been  borne  by 
individuals,  business  corporations  and  firms.  The  bonded 
debt  of  the  city  was  over  a  million  dollars  —  a  pretty  heavy 
load  in  those  days,  considering  the  population.  The 
amendatory  Act  of  1850,  limiting  the  indebtedness  of  the 
city  and  providing  for  a  sinking  fund  and  for  the  improve- 
ment of  streets,  etc.,  brought  some  relief,  so  far  as  con- 
cerned direct  municipal  affairs,  but  peculiar  subsequent 
acts  empowered  the  city  to  lend  its  credit  to  the  financing  of 
railroads  by  the  issue  of  bonds  to  buy  their  stock.  This 
resulted  in  plunging  the  city  still  deeper  in  debt.  Railroad 
bonds  to  the  amount  of  $1,800,000.00  were  purchased,  di- 
vided as  follows: 

[  195  ] 


THE    HISTORY    OF    PITTSBURGH 

Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Eailroad  (now  P.  F.  W.  &  C.) $200,000.00 

Pittsburgh  &  Steubenville  Railroad  (now  Pan  Handle).  .  550,000.00 

Allegheny  Valley  Railroad 400,000.00 

Pittsburgh  &  Connellsville  Railroad  (now  B.  &  O.) 500,000.00 

Chartiers  Valley  Railroad 150,000.00 

Total $1,800,000.00 


This,  added  to  the  municipal  bonded  debt  of  $1,136,624.65, 
raised  the  total  indebtedness  of  the  city  in  1855  to  $2,936,- 
624.65.  The  system  of  tax  collection  was  inefficient.  There 
were  delinquents  of  three  years '  standing ;  money  had  to  be 
borrowed  constantly  from  local  banks,  and  old  warrants 
dating  years  back  were  presented  for  payment.  Councils 
did  not  hesitate  to  use  funds  appropriated  for  specific  pur- 
poses to  pay  these  warrants,  even  exhausting  the  sinking 
fund,  and  completely  overdrawing  their  respective  allot- 
ments, and  they  made  additional  appropriations  after  more 
than  all  the  estimated  income  for  the  year  was,  by  ordi- 
nance, set  apart  for  specific  uses.  The  reputation  of  the 
city's  impaired  credit  was  spread  abroad,  and  its  bonds  were 
quoted  at  one  time  as  low  as  75  and  69,  when  bonds  of  other 
cities  were  selling  from  90  up.  Beyond  natural  advantages 
there  was  little  inducement  at  this  time  to  outside  capital 
and  business  men  to  locate  in  Pittsburgh. 

Although  Pittsburgh  was  the  last  city  of  her  class  in  the 
Union  to  succeed  in  increasing  her  transportation  facilities 
by  rail,  the  matter  received  some  attention  as  early  as 
August,  1827.  The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  had  been 
chartered  by  the  Legislature  of  Maryland,  and  at  a  meeting 
of  citizens  in  Pittsburgh  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
memorialize  the  Legislature  to  give  the  company  permission 
to  extend  its  road  to  Pittsburgh.  From  that  time  on,  inter- 
est increased;  railway  conventions  were  frequently  held, 
and  many  roads  to  extend  in  all  directions  from  Pittsburgh 
were  projected.  In  February,  1838,  a  petition  was  sent  to 
the  Legislature,  urging  the  construction  of  a  continuous  line 
from  Harrisburg  to  Johnstown  that  would  obviate  the  use 
of  the  incline  planes. '  At  about  the  same  time  a  memorial 
was  sent  to  the  Legislature,  advocating  a  continuous  line 
from  Philadelphia  to  Lake  Erie,  by  way  of  Pittsburgh  and 

[  196  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

Beaver.  Other  lines  were  also  enthusiastically  projected, 
but  nothing  noteworthy  was  accomplished  until  June,  1846, 
when  the  stock  of  the  Pittsburgh  and  Connellsville  Railroad 
was  offered  for  sale  in  Pittsburgh  and  met  with  great  suc- 
cess. The  stock  of  the  Pennsylvania  Central  Railroad  did 
not  fare  so  well.  There  was  considerable  feeling  here  at  what 
was  termed  the  "  apathy  of  the  State  "  in  neglecting  ^he 
interests  of  the  city,  hence  the  popularity  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  stock.  It  was  charged  that  the  Public  A¥orks 
(Canal)  ring  opposed  the  railroads;  doubtless  on  the  ground 
that  an  established  graft  was  better  than  a  prospective  one. 
The  strife  became  heated,  with  William  Robinson,  Jr.,  lead- 
ing the  Pennsylvania  Central  adherents  in  opposition  to 
William  Larimer,  Jr.,  at  the  head  of  the  Pittsburgh  and 
Connellsville  forces.  The  Pennsylvania  Central  supporters 
sought  to  influence  the  Pittsburgh  and  Connellsville  stock- 
holders to  transfer  their  holdings  to  the  Cleveland  &  Pitts- 
burgh Railroad.  In  this  they  were  successful  for  the  time 
being.  The  minority,  however,  continued  to  fight,  and  on 
February  ninth,  1848,  the  directors  of  the  Pittsburgh  and 
Connellsville  met  and  repealed  its  action  in  transferring 
their  charter  to  the  Cleveland  and  Pittsburgh  Railroad  and 
voted  to  extend  its  lines  west  to  Connellsville,  thus  con- 
necting with  Pittsburgh  by  slack  water  navigation.  Both 
roads  then  began  to  push  their  lines  west.  Thus  ended 
Pittsburgh's  first  great  railway  fight. 

In  1851  the  Pittsburgh  and  Ohio  Railroad  was  completed 
to  Beaver,  and  the  first  locomotive,  the  "  Salem,"  arrived 
July  first,  by  the  canal,  and  was  transferred  to  the  tracks. 
In  the  same  year  the  Pittsburgh  &  Cleveland  and  the  Pitts- 
burgh &  Steubcnville  Railroads  were  organized  and  con- 
struction was  begun.  The  next  year  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
and  the  Pennsylvania  Central  routes  to  the  east  were 
opened,  and  in  1853,  work  on  the  Allegheny  Valley  Railroad 
was  commenced.  Also,  three  new  dams  were  being  built  in 
the  Monongahela  to  extend  slack  water  navigation  to  Fair- 
mount,  Virginia.  With  these  added  means  of  communica- 
tion came  a  revival  of  business  which,  to  some,  promised  a 
substantial  and  even  prosperity.  New  business  and  indus- 
trial enterprises  were  established,  and  the  Bank  of  Pitts- 

[  197  ] 


y 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

burgh,  the  Merchants  and  Manufacturers,  and  the  Exchange 
banks  declared  a  semi-annual  dividend  of  four  per  cent,  in 
May,  1853,  which,  coming  on  the  heels  of  a  tight  money 
market,  resulted  in  a  renewal  of  the  demand  made  in  1850, 
after  the  enactment  of  the  Bank  Note  Law  by  the  State,  for 
more  banks  or  an  enlargement  of  the  capital  of  old  ones  to 
meet  the  expansion  of  business. 

There  were,  however,  others  who  saw,  in  the  revival,  con- 
ditions resembling  those  of  1837.  There  was  over-trading, 
over-speculation  and  some  heavy  failures  in  various  parts 
of  the  country,  but  there  was  no  expansion  of  currency. 
The  conditions  in  Europe,  the  millions  of  annual  gold  pro- 
duction of  California  and  the  extensive  construction  of  rail- 
roads were  counted  upon  to  produce  increasing  prosperity. 
The  large  borrowings  for  the  building  of  roads  were  looked 
upon  as  sane  because  they  developed  the  country's  re- 
sources which  would  pay  the  liabilities  incurred  in  their  con- 
struction. 

An  effort  was  made  in  1853-4  to  consolidate  the  cities  of 
Pittsburgh,  Allegheny  and  some  of  the  adjacent  boroughs, 
aggregating  a  population  of  110,000,  but  the  bill  failed  of 
passage  in  the  Legislature.  Had  the  consolidation  taken 
place  under  a  charter  expressly  providing  for  the  debt  of 
the  two  cities  and  insuring  an  unselfish  distribution  of  im- 
provements and  advantages,  the  importance  of  greater 
Pittsburgh  as  a  commercial  and  manufacturing  center  might 
have  been  directed  with  good  effect  to  the  attention  of  the 
outside  world.  A  writer  of  the  period  remarked  that  the 
history  of  such  cities  as  New  York,  Buffalo,  Cleveland, 
Chicago,  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis,  which  had  most  rapidly 
risen  to  prosperity,  magnitude  and  influence,  well  demon- 
strated that  they  owed  their  success  principally  to  the  con- 
stant heralding  of  their  claims  before  the  public,  setting 
forth  in  various  periodicals  their  superiorities  as  regards 
trade,  manufacturing,  advantages  or  profitableness  of  all 
kinds  of  investments,  and  so  on,  ending  with  the  statement 
that  '  ^  natural  advantages  alone  will  never  build  up  a  large 
city,  but  given,  in  addition,  a  class  of  merchants  and  busi- 
ness men  who  are  pushing,  enterprising,  far-seeing  and 
l^ublic  spirited,  who  have  much  city  pride  and  who  take 

[  198  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

delight  in  doing  all  in  their  power  to  advance  the  city's 
population,  welfare  and  influence,  the  prosperity  of  that 
city  becomes  assured  and  established."  Unquestionably 
the  recent  successful  effort  to  consolidate  will  accomplish 
for  Pittsburgh  more  in  a  decade  than  is  shown  by  the  his- 
tory of  any  two  or  three. 

In  Pittsburgh,  as  well  as  in  various  other  sections,  there 
was  a  severe  stringency  in  1854.  The  enormous  increase  of 
banks  and  paper  circulation  in  all  the  States  was  reckoned 
at  $10,000,000.00.  The  consequent  inflation  of  prices  en- 
couraged importations,  and  money  became  scarce  and  dear. 
The  tariff  of  1846  was  blamed  for  this.  Conditions  during 
the  following  years  did  not  improve,  but  grew  steadily 
worse.  Railroad  companies  continued  to  borrow  at  home 
and  abroad.  Imports  exceeded  exports  to  a  greater  and 
greater  degree  and  the  difference  was  made  up  in  specie. 
The  culmination  was  the  panic  of  1857.  The  cause  was 
attributed  by  protectionists  to  the  tariff  of  1846  and  the 
tariff  of  1857,  which  superseded  it  and  reduced  the  rate  of 
duties  still  more  and  increased  the  free  list.  While  this  was 
not  the  sole  cause,  taken  with  the  ending  of  the  Crimean 
War  the  year  before  and  the  revival  of  European  industry 
and  agriculture,  it  was  an  important  factor  which  aided  in 
bringing  on  the  crash.  The  cautiousness  of  Pittsburgh's 
financial  institutions  in  lending  money  and  the  absence  of 
the  spirit  of  speculation  enabled  her  to  withstand  the  storm 
better  than  most  cities;  though  many  banks  suspended 
specie  pajanent  from  September,  1857,  until  January  and 
February,  1858,  and  business  was  almost  at  a  standstill. 

The  large  municipal  and  county  investments  now  acted 
as  a  boomerang.  The  county  was  unable  to  pay  the  interest 
on  the  bonds  issued  to  purchase  railroad  stocks,  and  levied 
an  eight-mill  tax  for  the  purpose  and  to  provide  a  sinking 
fund  to  pay  the  principal.  A  convention,  called  the  County 
Tax  Convention, met  to  consider  the  question, and  a  majority 
favored  repudiation  of  both  interest  and  principal  ($5,500,- 
000.00  of  the  county  debt  of  $8,000,000.00  was  contracted  in 
financing  railroads).  The  railroads  were  unable  to  pay  the 
interest  on  the  bonds,  and  repudiation  was  advocated,  be- 
cause it  was  charged  that  subscriptions  for  their  stock  were 

[  199  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

obtained  through  fraud  and  that  the  law  prohibiting  the 
sale  of  bonds  below  par  had  been  evaded  by  exchanging 
them  for  iron  and  equipment,  thus  enabling  the  roads  to 
dispose  of  them  without  difficulty.  The  citizens  of  Pitts- 
burgh generally,  were  willing  to  continue  paying  the  in- 
terest, but  the  balance  of  power  in  the  county  lay  with 
the  repudiationists  and,  accordingly,  a  Railway  Commis- 
sioner, who  could  carry  out  their  principles,  was  appointed. 
Subsequent  to  this,  other  conventions  were  held  through- 
out the  country,  and  the  movement  against  taxation  in  aid 
of  railways  became  general.  In  February,  1859,  another 
convention,  the  Anti-Tax  Convention,  was  called,  and  reso- 
lutions were  adopted  opposing  the  payment  of  both  interest 
and  principal  of  the  county's  railroad  indebtedness  and 
instructing  the  County  Commissioner  not  to  levy  a  tax  for 
either  principal  or  interest.  Railroad  control  of  legislators 
and  courts  was  charged,  and  the  '*  star  chamber  proceed- 
ings" of  the  Supreme  Court  in  mandamus  cases  was  de- 
nounced as  unwarranted  and  unjust,  and  the  forty-eight 
members  of  the  City  Councils  were  advised  not  to  obey  the 
writs  of  mandamus  that  had  been  served  upon  them  "  to 
appear  in  Philadelphia  to  show  cause  why  absolute  man- 
damus proceedings  should  not  be  issued." 

The  sagaciousness  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany in  gaining  control  of  the  Pennsylvania  routes  of  trans- 
portation to  the  east,  to  the  detriment  of  the  interests  of 
Pittsburgh  and  Western  Pennsylvania,  was  recognized  at 
the  time  of  its  consummation  by  the  purchase  of  the  main 
canal  line  from  the  State  for  $7,500,000.00  in  1857.  The 
inadequacy  of  the  canals  as  a  steady  and  competent  means 
of  transportation  was  realized  as  far  back  as  1846-47.  Fre- 
quent washings  away  of  the  banks  congested  freight  and 
were  a  constant  expense  to  the  State.  Not  only  were  the 
legitimate  expenses  of  the  canal  heavy,  but  it  had  always 
been  controlled  by  politicians  and  the  incompetency  of  its 
officials  was  notorious.  In  fact,  it  was  sold  on  the  grounds 
that  its  management  was  constantly  ''  liable  to  great  evil," 
and  that  the  "  liquidation  of  taxation  was  earnestly  de- 
sired." Over  $30,000,000.00  had  been  expended  on  the 
transportation  facilities  of  the  State,  and  the  net  income  had 

[  200  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

never  been  sufficient  to  pay  the  interest  on  the  debt.  Rail- 
road mania  prevailed,  and  the  value  of  the  ''  miserable 
ditches  ' '  was  obscured  and  the  canal  was  sold.  If  the  vast 
amount  of  money  expended  had  been  concentrated  on  the 
main  line  between  Pittsburgh  and  Philadelphia,  there  would 
have  been  ensured  to  Western  Pennsylvania  better  and 
cheaper  transportation  facilities,  which  she  has  always 
needed.  Its  maintenance  would,  like  the  Erie  Canal  in 
New  York,  have  acted  as  a  governor  in  the  discrimination 
in  freight  rates,  of  which  there  was  so  much  complaint. 
As  an  example:  the  published  freight  schedule  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1858,  on  first-class  freight  from  New  York  to  Pitts- 
burgh, per  one  hundred  pounds,  was  $1.23,  to  Columbus, 
Ohio,  $1.15.  According  to  this,  Pittsburgh  freight  from 
New  York,  at  Columbus  rates,  should  have  been  but  68 
cents,  a  difference  of  55  cents.  Rates  to  Cincinnati  were 
but  $1.25,  only  two  cents  more  than  the  rate  to  Pittsburgh, 
with  the  then  additional  distance  of  four  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-four miles. 

In  the  Legislative  Bill  of  Sale  of  the  Public  Works  was  a 
clause  providing  that,  if  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany paid  $1,500,000.00  more  than  any  other  bidder,  it 
should  be  released  from  paying  the  State  Canal  Tonnage 
Tax  forever.  The  Supreme  Court  granted  an  injunction  to 
the  Canal  Commissioners,  preventing  the  sale  under  this 
clause.  Then  the  Pennsylvania  Company  began  a  vigorous 
war  against  the  three-mill  transportation  tonnage  tax,  with 
the  Philadelphia  Board  of  Trade  on  the  railroad  side, 
against  Pittsburgh  and  Western  Pennsylvania.  A  com- 
mittee from  Philadelphia  visited  Pittsburgh  on  the  tenth  of 
June,  1858,  and  remained  two  or  three  days  in  conference 
over  the  proposed  repeal.  The  discussion  extended  to  the 
discrimination  in  freight  rates ;  the  Chairman  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Committee  justifying  the  discrimination  on  the 
ground  that  a  lowering  of  rates  to  Pittsburgh,  in  proportion 
to  rates  for  points  further  west,  would  ' '  deprive  the  road 
of  the  power  to  meet  its  liabilities,"  and  that  they  were  com- 
pelled to  carry  freight  within  the  range  of  competing  lines 
at  lower  rates  to  secure  patronage.  Therefore,  the  road 
was  compelled  to  lay  a  heavy  tariff  on  Pittsburgh  ^'  in 

[  201  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBUROH 

order  to  raise  the  wind  successfully."  One  of  the  com- 
mittee said,  in  effect,  that  the  repeal  of  the  tonnage  tax 
would  insure  a  reduction  in  freight  rates  to  an  amount 
equal  to  the  tax.  However,  their  arguments  were  unavail- 
ing and  the  committee  departed,  unsuccessful  in  its  at- 
tempts to  win  Pittsburgh  to  the  railroad  side,  and  the 
attempt  to  repeal  the  tax  at  the  next  session  of  the  Legis- 
lature failed;  but  the  Railroad  Company  took  the  matter 
up  again  in  the  session  of  1860-61,  and  the  Act  for  the  repeal 
was  approved  March  seventh,  1861. 

Pittsburgh  was  warranted  in  the  stand  it  took,  as  subse- 
quent events  have  shown.  The  lack  of  faith  in  the  promises 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  and  the  fear 
of  encroachments  on  the  city's  interests  and  property 
date  back  to  the  early  part  of  1853,  when  the  company  set 
at  naught  the  condition  imposed  by  City  Councils  when  they 
granted  the  privilege  of  a  track  down  Liberty  street;  viz: 
that  the  company  should  not  engage  in  the  forwarding 
business,  and  the  violation  of  this  condition  was  regarded 
as  an  interference  with  the  business  of  the  citizens. 

Other  noteworthy  events  of  this  decade  were:  The  visit 
in  January,  1852,  of  Louis  Kossuth,  ex-Governor  of  Hun- 
gary, who  had  led  an  unsuccessful  rebellion  against  Austria ; 
the  building  of  the  City  Hall  and  Market  House  on  the  Dia- 
mond in  1852-53 ;  the  establishment  of  the  Board  of  Health 
by  Act  of  Legislature  in  1852;  the  building  of  the  United 
States  Custom  House,  with  United  States  court-rooms  and 
Post-office,  in  1853,  at  the  comer  of  Fifth  avenue  and  Smith- 
field  street  on  the  present  site  of  the  Park  Building,  an 
appropriation  of  $75,000.00  having  been  made  by  Congress 
in  March,  1851 ;  another  visitation  of  cholera  in  September, 
1854,  by  which  two  hundred  and  forty-nine  persons  died; 
the  inauguration  of  the  use  of  iron  in  the  outside  structure 
of  buildings,  the  first  steps  toward  the  improvement  of 
Ohio  river  navigation  and  the  reorganization  of  the  Board 
of  Trade  in  the  same  year ;  and  the  advent  of  street  rail- 
ways in  1859,  the  first  of  which  was  the  Citizens  Passenger 
Railway  to  Lawrenceville  (then  came  the  Pittsburgh  & 
Birmingham  Passenger  Railway  and  the  route  out  Fifth 
avenue  to  Oakland)  and  the  first  operation  of  the  new  law 

[  202  ] 


^^^/p^= 

*4- 

^: 

% 

X- 

OLD   CITY    HALL. 


THE   MUNICIPALITY 

in  January,  1858,  requiring  tliat  the  Mayor,  Treasurer  and 
Controller  should  be  elected  biennially  by  a  general  vote. 
The  Mayor  was  given  the  power  of  an  alderman  or  a  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  the  Select  Council  the  power,  under  certain 
restrictions,  to  remove  the  above  officers. 

Perhaps  the  most  notable  event  of  this  period  was  the 
holding  of  the  National  Convention  in  Lafayette  Hall,  in 
February,  1856.  Subsequent  to  the  compromise  of  1850,  the 
Free  Soilers  held  a  convention  at  Pittsburgh,  declaring 
slavery  a  sin  against  God  and  a  crime  against  man,  and 
denouncing  the  compromise  and  the  parties  who  supported 
it,  because  they  were  "  implicated  in  the  sin  of  slavery." 
Then  came  the  passage  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  Bill  in  1854, 
which  provided  that  territories  should  themselves  decide  as 
to  the  admission  or  exclusion  of  slavery.  The  opponents  of 
this  bill,  known  as  '*  Anti-Nebraska  "men,  and  the  deflection 
to  the  various  parties,  such  as  the  Free  Soil  and  the  Know 
Nothing,  had  disrupted  the  political  parties  of  the  north. 
Previous  affiliations  were  renounced,  and  the  following  year 
conventions  known  as  Republican  Conventions  were  held 
in  various  States  of  the  north,  and  candidates  for  State 
offices  were  nominated  on  platforms  declaring  against  the 
repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  the  Fugitive  Slave 
Law  and  the  aggressions  of  slavery. 

A  Republican  County  Convention  was  held  in  Pittsburgh 
in  August  of  1855,  and  in  September,  a  Republican  State 
Convention,  at  which  other  States  were  represented.  A 
platform  was  adopted,  vigorously  denouncing  the  repeal  of 
the  Missouri  Compromise,  the  Enactment  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  Law  and  calling  for  concerted  action  of  all  free- 
men in  resisting  the  encroachments  of  the  slave  power. 
The  practical  outgrowth  of  these  State  Republican  Conven- 
tions was  the  National  Convention  of  February  twenty- 
second,  1856,  at  Pittsburgh,  and  the  formal  organization  of 
the  National  Republican  party.  A  national  nominating  con- 
vention was  also  arranged  to  meet  in  Philadelphia  on  the 
seventeenth  of  June. 

Many  speeches  were  made  by  the  nation's  greatest  men 
at  the  Pittsburgh  convention,  among  them  being  Horace 
Greely's  which  counselled  "  moderation,  caution  and  for- 

[  203  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBUEGH 

bearance  "  in  the  Convention's  consideration  and  treatment 
of  the  grave  problems  which  threatened  the  Union."  The 
result  of  this  convention  was  the  formal  organization  of  the 
party,  which  adhered  to  the  principles  of  the  Whigs  and 
Federalists  and  added  the  principle  of  "  Federal  govern- 
mental power  to  control  slavery  in  the  territories." 

The  plea  for  a  higher  protective  tariff,  as  the  only  per- 
manent guarantee  of  the  life  of  manufacturing  interests 
and  safety  from  panics,  again  went  forth  from  Pittsburgh 
and  other  manufacturing  cities  after  the  crash  of  1857.  The 
next  tariff  was  the  Morrill  Tariff  of  1860-61,  by  which 
specific  duties  were  substituted  for  advalorem,  and  the 
duties  on  iron  and  wool  considerably  increased. 

The  decade  closed  with  very  little  increase  in  population, 
but  with  renewed  faith  in  the  city 's  destiny,  notwithstanding 
the  threatenings  of  war  which  hung  on  the  horizon.  The 
population  in  1860  of  the  city  proper  was  49,217. 

1860-1870.  The  apprehension  over  threatened  dissolu- 
tion of  the  Union,  caused  by  the  South  Carolina  Ordinance 
of  Secession,  passed  by  that  State  in  December,  1860,  was 
somewhat  allayed  by  the  election  of  Lincoln.  This,  and 
the  enactment  of  the  new  tariff  law,  mentioned  above, 
promised  a  period  of  prosperity  to  the  community.  But 
the  quick  secession  of  other  Southern  States,  following 
the  declaration  of  South  Carolina,  brought  to  a  crisis 
the  long  struggle  over  State  sovereignty  and  slavery, 
and  turned  all  hope  into  gloom.  In  the  place  of  industry 
and  commerce,  came  activity  of  military  preparation  and 
intense  and  continued  excitement  of  war  through  all  the 
years  of  the  Great  Rebellion.  Pittsburgh  played  a  part 
that  has  ever  been  a  pride  to  all  loyal  citizens.  There  is, 
indeed,  in  the  history  of  the  city  and  county,  so  much  of 
moment  concerning  military  affairs  that  it  has  been  col- 
lected and  given  elsewhere  in  these  pages  under  an  appro- 
priate heading,  and  only  those  facts  which  are  necessary  to 
a  lucid  treatment  of  the  general  progress  of  the  years  from 
1860  to  1870  is  given  here. 

Even  before  the  outbreak  of  actual  war,  the  high  feeling 
for  the  integrity  of  the  Union,  and  the  willingness  to  sacri- 
fice life  and  treasure  for  it,  were  manifested  in  the  events 

[  204  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

which  took  place  in  Pittsburgh  during  the  last  days  of 
December,  1860,  and  marked  the  first  open  action  of  the 
North  against  the  South.  For  months  the  columns  of  the 
local  dailies  had  teemed  with  expressions  of  ridicule  at  the 
outspoken  threats  of  the  Southern  States,  supplemented  by 
a  current  of  unbelief  that  affairs  would  take  the  serious 
form  of  open  rebellion.  All  was  characterized  as  a 
''  scare;  "  but  when  Secretary  of  War  Floyd's  order  came 
to  the  Arsenal  at  Pittsburgh,  close  on  the  heels  of  the  news 
of  South  Carolina's  secession,  to  remove  one  hundred  and 
twenty-four  cannon  and  other  munitions  of  war  to  south- 
ern military  posts,  the  ' '  scare  ' '  became  a  living,  threaten- 
ing danger. 

Secretary  Floyd's  order  called  for  the  shipment  of  the 
cannon  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  December.  It  included  44 
ten-inch  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight-pounder  Colum- 
biads,  69  eight-inch  sixty-four-pounder  Columbiads,  and  11 
thirty-two-pounder  iron  guns.  The  news  spread  quickly, 
and  a  call,  signed  by  prominent  citizens,  was  issued  for  a 
meeting  at  the  Mayor's  office  on  the  twenty-fifth.  General 
William  Robinson  presided;  several  addresses  were  made 
on  the  situation,  the  "  wanton  dereliction  of  duty  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States  "  and  the  *'  overt  act  of 
treason  on  the  part  of  South  Carolina  "  in  passing  the 
Ordinance  of  Secession.  It  was  decided  to  make  a  demand 
upon  the  President  that  the  order  be  ''  countermanded 
without  delay."  A  committee  was  appointed  to  send  a 
telegram ;  it  read  as  follows : 

''  James  Buchanan,  President  of  the  United  States: 

''Sir.  —  An  order  issued  by  the  War  Department  to 
transfer  the  effective  munitions  of  war  from  the  Arsenal 
in  this  city  to  southern  military  posts  has  created  great 
excitement  in  the  public  mind.  We  would  advise  that  the 
order  be  immediately  countermanded.  We  speak  at  the 
instance  of  the  people,  and  if  not  done,  cannot  answer  for 
the  consequences. 

''  William  Wilkins, 
*'  William  F.  Johnston, 
''  Thomas  Williams, 
''  Charles  Shaler." 
[  205  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

There  was  also  forwarded  to  the  President,  Secretary  of 
State,  and  Attorney-General,  manuscript  copies  of  this  mes- 
sage, with  a  request  for  an  immediate  reply.  Another 
committee  was  appointed  to  endeavor  to  persuade  the  offi- 
cers of  the  Arsenal  to  disregard  the  order  until  an  answer 
to  the  telegram  was  received,  and  also  to  ascertain  the 
particulars  of  recent  shipments  of  arms  and  equipment  to 
the  south  and  the  amount  and  character  of  stores  at  the 
Arsenal.  The  Commandant  of  the  Arsenal,  Major  John 
Symington  of  Maryland,  refused  to  give  any  satisfactory 
information  concerning  shipments  of  arms,  etc.,  and  stated 
that  the  cannon  which  had  been  ordered  south  were  for  the 
' '  equipment  of  two  new  forts  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, ' '  and 
would  be  shipped  unless  the  order  was  revoked  at  Wash- 
ington. Upon  inquiry  it  was  learned  that  for  many  days 
past,  government  wagons  had  been  transferring  arms  and 
ammunition  to  the  city  for  shipment  south.  There  were 
some  who  counselled  that  the  shipment  of  the  cannon  be 
allowed  to  take  place,  inasmuch  as  there  was  not  a  declared 
state  of  war,  and  resistance  to  the  government's  orders 
was  pointed  out  as  a  serious  offense;  but  the  anger  of  the 
people  could  not  be  restrained,  and  they  were  practically 
unanimous  in  the  determination  to  prevent  the  guns  leav- 
ing the  city.  The  Dispatch  said  significantly,  in  its  issue 
the  same  day,  December  twenty-fifth,  *'  we  suppose  some 
one  will  tap  the  fire  bells  on  the  route  on  their  making  their 
appearance  on  Penn  or  Liberty  streets  that  our  people  may 
witness  their  removal." 

Another  call  was  issued,  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty- 
seventh,  for  a  meeting  to  be  held  at  2  p.  m.  that  day  in  the 
Court  House.  The  Supreme  Court  room  and  all  available 
space  within  the  rotunda  was  over-crowded  with  excited 
men,  and  an  adjournment  to  the  open  air  was  made  to  ac- 
commodate the  throng.  General  Robinson  again  presided. 
He  counselled  restraint  and  that  ''  nothing  resembling  an 
overt  act  of  treason  should  be  committed."  Resolutions 
were  adopted  stating,  "  First,  that  notwithstanding  the 
notorious  fact  that  our  rulers  are  disarming  the  friends  and 
arming  the  enemies  of  the  Union,  we  feel  that  its  friends 
are  strong  enough,  even  without  other  arms  than  their  own, 

[  206  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

to  sustain  the  Constitution  and  the  laws  and  to  follow  and 
to  retake  the  guns  thus  ordered  to  be  removed,  in  case  they 
shall  be  traitorously  employed  against  them.  Second,  that 
we  therefore  deprecate  any  interference  with  the  said  arms 
under  government  orders,  however  inopportune  or  im- 
politic the  same  may  be,  believing  that  it  would  give  color 
to  the  imputation  that  we  have  no  more  respect  for  Federal 
Laws  than  any  fellow  citizens  of  the  seceding  State  of 
South  Carolina,  and  decrease  our  moral  much  more  than  it 
could  increase  our  material  power."  The  remaining 
clauses  of  the  resolutions  professed,  in  substance,  ^ '  loyalty 
to  the  union  of  the  states,"  fellowship  with  the  people  of 
the  south,  and  regret  that ' '  demagogues  and  nations  should 
have  been  able  to  deceive  them  into  a  contrary  belief," 
there  here  there  was  no  North  nor  South,  that  the  existing 
state  of  affairs  which  had  occasioned  the  disturbance  was 
deplored,  that  to  restore  confidence  it  behooved  the  Presi- 
dent to  purge  his  Cabinet  of  every  man  who  was  known 
to  have  been  giving  aid  and  comfort  to,  or  in  any  wise 
countenancing  and  abetting  the  actual  or  apprehended  re- 
volt of  any  of  the  States  against  the  Constitution  and  the 
laws  of  the  Union;  and  that  the  sons  of  Pennsylvania  call 
upon  the  President  to  see  that  no  detriment  came  to  the 
Republic  while  it  remained  in  his  hands.  After  the  passage 
of  these  resolutions  another  was  appended,  providing  that 
copies  should  be  transmitted  to  the  President,  through 
heads  of  the  various  departments  at  Washington,  and  to 
each  of  the  Senators  and  members  of  Congress,  and  also 
that  the  same  be  published  in  the  city  papers.  The  dis- 
senting voices  to  the  adoption  of  these  resolutions  came 
from  those  who  were  in  favor  of  physical  resistance  to  the 
execution  of  the  government's  orders  to  ship  the  guns. 

Major  Symington  resisted  the  attacks  that  had  been  made 
on  him  by  some  of  the  papers  and  sent  a  letter  to  the  meet- 
ing, stating  that  the  published  ' '  misstatements  in  regard  to 
the  operations  of  this  Arsenal  *  *  *  should  be  cor- 
rected," and  that  the  various  orders  to  be  filled  were  of 
long  standing.  The  letter  continued,  giving  details  of 
various  orders,  etc.  The  meeting  adjourned,  but  the  people 
continued  to  linger  about  anxiously  awaiting  a  reply  to 

[  207  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

the  telegram  of  the  twenty-fifth.  It  did  not  come,  and 
indignation  meetings  were  held  daily.  In  the  meantime 
several  of  the  guns  had  been  hauled  to  the  wharf  and  some 
of  them  loaded  on  the  transport,  the  Silver  Wave,  amid 
great  excitement.  On  one  occasion  the  guns  and  the 
soldiers  escorting  them  were  held  up  on  the  streets  and 
were  not  allowed  to  continue  for  some  hours,  but  happily 
there  was  no  violence.  In  a  few  days,  on  January  third, 
1861,  the  news  came  that  the  order  had  been  recalled,  and 
the  community  quieted  down. 

An  interesting  explanation  of  the  final  action  of  the 
President  in  forcing  Secretary  Floyd  to  countermand  his 
order  was  recently  published  in  the  Bulletin:  There  lived 
in  Lawrenceville  a  cousin  of  the  President,  Dr.  J.  S.  Spear, 
a  noted  oculist,  and  one  time  President  of  the  Allegheny 
Cemetery  Association.  Realizing  the  danger  of  an  open 
rupture  between  the  government  and  citizens,  he  wrote  to 
President  Buchanan,  detailing  the  state  of  local  feeling  and 
warning  him  that  the  government  was  incurring  great 
danger  of  a  collision  in  Pittsburgh.  Upon  the  receipt  of 
this  letter  the  President  commanded  Secretary  Floyd  to 
countermand  the  order  immediately.  Had  the  order  not 
been  countermanded  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  guns 
would  have  failed  to  reach  their  destination,  as  the  temper 
of  the  populace  was  such  that,  had  the  guns  been  loaded  on 
the  transport,  they  would  have  been  sunk  before  they  were 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  wharf. 

The  next  event  that  startled  the  city  and  re-awoke  the 
spirit  of  patriotism  to  action  was  the  news  of  the  fall  of 
Fort  Sumter,  received  in  Pittsburgh  Sunday  evening,  April 
fourteenth,  1861.  The  war  had  begun.  Military  feeling, 
which  had  been  at  a  high  pitch  since  the  attack  on  the  Fort, 
the  thirteenth,  at  once  increased  to  an  almost  uncontrolla- 
ble degree.  A  mass  meeting  was  called  the  next  day  to 
meet  at  City  Hall.  The  Honorable  William  Wilkins  pre- 
sided, and  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted,  setting 
forth,  in  substance,  that.  Whereas,  the  National  Govern- 
ment being  menaced  by  traitors  in  arms  who  had  defied  its 
just  authority,  raised  the  standard  of  revolt,  and,  by  hostile 
acts  of  war,  had  disturbed  the  public  tranquillity  and  en- 

[  208  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

dangered  the  public  peace,  and  that  it  was  the  duty  of  all 
loyal  and  patriotic  Americans,  regardless  of  party,  to  aid 
the  constitutional  authorities  in  maintaining  inviolate  the 
supremacy  of  the  Constitution  and  laws;  and  it  was  Ee- 
solved,  that  obligations  of  undying  loyalty  to  the  Govern- 
ment and  Union  should  be  now  expressed,  and  that  the 
National  honor  should  be  defended  and  supported  against 
all  assailants,  and  that  the  course  which  had  been  pursued 
by  the  Legislative  and  Executive  branches  of  our  State 
government  be  approved,  and  that  Allegheny  county  would 
contribute  her  full  quota  of  men  and  means  in  this  crisis, 
and  "  that  a  committee  of  one  hundred  citizens  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  Chair,  as  a  Committee  of  Public  Safety,  to 
see  that  the  Patriot  cause  receive  no  detriment  in  this 
region.    *    *    *     " 

Two  days  afterward,  on  the  seventeenth,  Chairman 
Wilkins  announced  his  selection  for  the  Committee  of 
Public  Safety,  and  immediately  the  various  subcommittees 
were  organized,  the  Executive  Committee,  Committee  on 
Transit  of  Munitions  of  War,  Committee  on  Support  of 
Volunteers  Not  Yet  Accepted  by  the  Government,  Commit- 
tee for  the  Aid  of  Families  of  Volunteers,  and  later,  the 
Subsistence  Committee,  etc.  Under  the  supervision  of 
this  committee  Allegheny  county's  quota  of  volunteers  was 
speedily  raised,  in  answer  to  President  Lincoln's  first  call 
for  75,000  men.  This  was  the  beginning  of  its  activity  in 
aid  of  the  Union  cause.  A  record  of  the  work  accomplished 
by  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety,  an  account  of  the 
Sanitary  Fair  of  June,  1864,  the  fortifying  of  the  city,  and 
other  interesting  events  in  connection  with  the  war,  are 
given  in  another  part  of  this  volume.  Not  only  did  the 
city  and  county  furnish  soldiers  for  the  war,  but  during  the 
entire  period,  her  manufacturers,  merchants,  and  the  banks 
of  the  city  aided  the  government  in  supplying  equipment, 
clothing,  food,  and  money.  On  April  seventeenth,  1861, 
the  Board  of  Bank  Presidents  sent  a  telegram  to  the  Gov- 
ernor stating  that  ''  the  Banks  of  Pittsburgh  will  cheer- 
fully respond  to  the  call  for  money  to  meet  the  late  appro- 
priation to  be  used  in  enabling  the  Government  to  sustain 
the  Constitution  and  the  laws."  These  acts  of  patriotism 
14  [  209  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

were  practically  expressed  when  the  entire  district  was  in 
the  midst  of  a  severe  business  depression  and  when  the 
burden  of  taxation  was  the  heaviest  in  its  history,  ^ '  about 
the  most  dismal  time  in  the  financial  affairs  of  the  city,  and 
so  embarrassing  and  pressing  were  the  importunities  of 
creditors  that  it  required  the  most  adroit  and  skillful  move- 
ments to  avoid  the  ingenious  writs  and  law  proceedings  of 
the  courts  to  keep  the  city  government  in  motion  and  escape 
being  cast  into  jail  for  contempt  of  court." 

The  city's  railroad  debt  was  $1,800,000.00  with  interest 
due  on  it  to  the  amount  of  $540,000.00  in  addition  to  the  debt 
of  $2,308,070.00  for  the  city  proper  and  its  proportionate 
share  of  the  county  debt.  The  Supreme  Court  had  ordered 
the  county  and  city  to  pay  its  railroad  indebtedness,  but  the 
County  Commissioners  still  persisted  in  refusing  to  levy 
the  necessary  tax  and  were  consequently  put  in  jail.  Mass 
meetings  and  the  conventions  of  1860  denounced  the  action 
of  the  courts  in  resolutions  and  asked  for  the  removal  of 
the  whole  Supreme  Court  bench.  The  jailed  commissioners 
were  not  released  until  the  latter  part  of  May,  1861,  when 
the  county  paid  their  fines  of  $1,000  each.  The  matter  was 
not  finally  adjusted  imtil  February,  1863,  when  a  com- 
promise was  effected,  the  terms  of  which  called  for  a  con- 
solidation of  bonds  and  coupons  to  January  first,  1863,  an 
abatement  of  3i/2  per  cent,  being  allowed  to  the  creditors, 
which  was  funded  at  5  per  cent.,  and  the  issue  of  new  bonds 
which  were  to  be  clear  of  taxation.  For  judgments,  the 
bonds  were  to  run  for  twenty  years,  the  balance  of  the  debt 
fifty  years ;  the  old  bonds  to  be  deposited  with  the  trustees 
and  not  to  be  cancelled  until  after  the  punctual  payment 
of  interest  on  the  new  bonds  for  five  years.  Attorneys  on 
judgments  and  cost  of  court  and  expenses  to  be  paid  by  the 
county.  The  settlement  with  the  city  was  substantially 
the  same.  In  addition  to  this  condition  of  affairs,  the  city 
was  flooded  with  depreciated  bills  of  banks  of  other  States 
to  such  an  extent  that  it  became  necessary  for  the  mer- 
chants, manufacturers,  and  business  men  to  take  united 
action,  on  the  nineteenth  of  April,  1861,  in  deciding  to  ac- 
cept such  paper  only  at  its  real  worth,  to  refuse  all  de- 
preciated bank  bills  after  May  first  —  the  notes  of  southern 

[  210  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

banks  were  entirely  refused  —  and  to  transact  all  business 
as  far  as  possible  on  a  par  basis. 

The  confusion  in  money  matters  continued  throughout 
the  war.  Specie  payments  were  suspended  by  nearly  all 
the  banks  in  1860,  in  1861,  and  again  in  1863.  By  legis- 
lative sanction,  all  banks  organized  under  the  free  banking 
laws  of  the  State  were  allowed  to  suspend.  The  enormous 
strain,  caused  by  taking  the  various  issues  of  government 
bonds,  had  proved  too  heavy,  even  before  the  $250,000  issue 
of  1861.  Then  came  the  issue  of  treasury  notes  which 
were  not  redeemable  on  demand;  and  the  passage  of  the 
National  Bank  Act,  of  February  twenty-fifth,  1863,  and  the 
establishment  of  hundreds  of  National  Banks,  all  of  which 
contributed  to  the  prolonging  of  the  suspension  of  specie 
payments.  It  was  almost  impossible  to  procure  small 
change  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1862,  and  in  consequence 
there  was  a  movement  started  by  the  butchers  of  Pitts- 
burgh and  Allegheny  to  relieve  the  condition  by  issuing 
25  cent  ''  shin  plasters."  But  the  city's  past  experience 
with  this  form  of  currency,  and  the  existing  confusion, 
caused  by  the  flood  of  paper  currency  already  in  circulation, 
caused  a  protest  against  the  contemplated  action  of  the 
*'  Association  of  Butchers."  It  was  pronounced  impolitic, 
inexpedient,  and  unlawful ;  but  notwithstanding  the  protest, 
the  butchers  of  Allegheny  issued  a  quantity,  and  one  R. 
Danver,  of  the  Association,  was  arrested.  However,  before 
the  case  was  brought  to  trial,  the  announcement  that  the 
government  would  provide  fractional  currency,  induced  the 
recall  of  the  shin  plasters  and  the  suit  was  dismissed.  The 
government  issued  "  postage  currency  "  at  the  Custom 
House,  which,  during  the  hours  of  distribution,  on  account 
of  the  limited  amount  issued  to  each  person,  was  the  scene 
of  much  jostling  and  roughness. 

Conditions  were  easier  in  1863  and  1864.  The  success 
of  the  Union  arms  stimulated  investments,  and  securities 
were  generally  higher.  Wild  speculation  ensued,  which 
caused  an  inflation  resulting  in  a  panic  in  the  latter  part  of 
April,  1864.  It  did  not  last  long,  however,  and  speculation 
and  high  prices  prevailed,  especially  in  the  necessities, 
and   the    spread    of   the    National    Banking    system    con- 

[  211  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

tinned  though  there  was  a  great  deal  of  hostility  to  it.  The 
immense  volume  of  paper  money  in  circulation  sent  gold  up 
until  it  became  practically  an  article  of  merchandise,  and 
the  prospect  of  a  resumption  of  specie  payments  was  un- 
certain. Many  foresaw  a  collapse.  On  the  other  hand, 
there  were  men  eminent  in  business  and  financial  experi- 
ence who  protested  against  an  early  resumption,  on  the 
ground  that  the  high  and  practically  uniform  premium  on 
gold  was  essential  as  a  basis  of  calculation  for  operations 
in  all  departments  of  commercial  and  manufacturing  enter- 
prise. But,  owing  to  the  peculiar  conditions  which  existed 
subsequent  to  the  war,  the  looked  for  panic  did  not  im- 
mediately occur. 

From  the  beginning  of  hostilities  in  1861,  the  Government 
\had  called  on  Pittsburgh  for  every  variety  of  munitions  of 
iwar,  from  the  smallest  arms  to  great  twenty-inch  guns, 
monitors,  and  gun  boats.  In  fact,  the  first  twenty-inch  gun 
^ver  made  was  cast  in  Pittsburgh  at  the  Fort  Pitt  Foundry 
in  February,  1864,  by  the  method  invented  by  Major  Rod- 
man. The  process  consisted  in  toughening  the  metal  as  it 
cboled  by  playing  continuous  jets  of  cold  water  on  all  parts 
of  the  gun.  The  length  of  this  gun  was  twenty  feet,  three 
inches,  with  a  maximum  diameter  of  over  five  feet,  and  a 
minimum  diameter  of  about  three  feet.  Wlien  turned  out 
it  weighed  about  fifty-five  tons,  over  twenty  tons  having 
been  cut  away  in  finishing.  The  weight  of  the  shot  used 
was  over  one  thousand  pounds,  of  the  shell,  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds,  and  the  service  charge  was  one  hundred 
pounds  of  mammoth  powder.  The  monitor  JJmpqua  was 
built  in  1863.  The  sea-going  monitor  Manayunk,  built 
entirely  of  iron  by  Snowden  and  Mason  of  South  Pitts- 
burgh, and  the  river  monitors  Sandusky  and  Marietta, 
built  by  Joseph  Tomlinson  and  Hartupee  and  Company  of 
the  city,  were  completed  in  the  Spring  of  1865.  Many 
others  followed. 

The  various  tariff  acts  of  the  war  period,  notably  the 
Acts  of  1862  and  1864,  also  stimulated  the  development  of 
Pittsburgh  industries  to  such  an  extent  that  by  the  end  of 
the  year  1866  the  business,  based  on  actual  sales  in  all 
branches,  had  increased  from  about  $42,000,000  in  1860  to 

[  212  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

over  $63,000,000,  and  the  population  had  almost  doubled. 
An  idea  of  the  increasing  productiveness  of  the  Pittsburgh 
district  may  be  gained  from  the  amount  of  the  internal 
revenue  tax  of  1865,  amoimting  to  $4,386,523.30,  which  was 
$1,857,591.21  over  that  of  1864.  There  were  50  glass 
factories,  31  rolling  mills,  46  iron  foundries,  58  oil  refineries, 
33  machine  shops,  12  boiler  works,  7  steel  manufacturies, 
10  brass  foundries,  16  potteries,  5  cotton  and  4  woolen 
factories,  9  plow  factories,  shops  for  heavy  forging,  white 
lead,  chemical,  saw,  axe,  and  copper  works.  Over  half  the 
steel  and  one-third  of  the  glass  manufactured  in  the  United 
States  were  made  in  Pittsburgh.  The  city  had  been  built 
up  by  her  ^'  own  creative  energy  in  extracting  and  trans- 
mitting into  forms  adapted  to  the  wants  of  civilized  society 
the  crude  material  with  which  nature  had  so  lavishly  sur- 
rounded her." 

In  addition  to  being  the  busiest  and  greatest  industrial 
center  of  the  Western  Hemisphere,  Pittsburgh  had  lately 
become  the  great  petroleum  market  of  the  west.  The 
product  of  the  great  oil  fields  of  Western  Pennsylvania 
came  down  the  Allegheny  to  Pittsburgh  to  be  refined  in  its 
numerous  refineries  by  a  process  invented  by  Samuel  M. 
Kier,  sometime  previous  to  1850,  according  to  the  assertion 
of  his  son,  W.  L.  Kier.  Pittsburgh  in  a  great  measure 
regulated  the  petroleum  markets  of  the  east.  The  uncer- 
tainty of  river  navigation  hastened  the  completion  of  the 
New  Castle,  Franklin  and  Pittsburgh  Railroad  to  the  north, 
and  various  other  roads  stretched  out  in  every  direction  to 
accommodate  the  increasing  commercial  relations.  The 
mania  for  oil  speculation  spread  to  other  securities;  in 
January,  1866,  an  Exchange  was  established,  which  became 
the  scene  of  heavy  stock  operations,  and  its  quotations  were 
scanned  eagerly  in  every  market  of  the  country.  In  addi- 
tion, there  were  the  Pittsburgh  Petroleum  Association  in 
1867,  and  the  Brokers'  Association,  followed  by  others  in 
the  succeeding  years. 

Through  the  efforts  of  Prof.  Lewis  Bradley  a  subscription 
was  raised  in  1860  for  the  establishment  of  the  Allegheny 
Observatory.  The  outbreak  of  the  war  and  the  consequent 
financial  drain  hindered  its  full  utility  for  some  years ;  but 

[  213  ] 


THE  HISTOEY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

in  1866,  by  the  generosity  of  Mr.  William  Thaw  and  others, 
it  was  relieved  from  financial  difficulties,  and  a.  small  endow- 
ment fund  was  established.  Professor  S.  P.  Langley  was 
chosen  the  first  Director  in  1867.  Under  his  supervision 
and  that  of  his  eminent  successors.  Professor  James  Ed- 
ward Keeler  and  Dr.  John  A.  Brashear,  its  equipment  and 
accomplishments  constantly  increased ;  now  it  ranks  among 
the  leading  observatories  of  the  country.  It  was  from  this 
observatory,  in  1869,  that  astronomical  time  was  first  dis- 
tributed to  railroads  and  cities,  and  in  1870,  over  forty  roads 
had  adopted  the  "Allegheny  system." 

The  year  1860  was  also  notable  for  the  visit  of  "  Baron 
Renfrew, ' '  the  Prince  of  AVales.  He  arrived  in  Pittsburgh 
on  the  morning  of  October  second,  and  departed  the  follow- 
ing day.  He  was  accompanied  by  Lord  Lyons,  Lord  Bruce, 
the  Earl  of  Germains,  Lord  Henchonbrook,  Sir  Henry  Hol- 
land and  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  beside  numerous  attend- 
ants. Mr.  George  Wilson,  who  was  then  mayor  of  the  city, 
gives  his  reminescences  of  the  event  in  the  Gazette  of 
January  twenty-second,  1901.  A  few  excerpts  are  here 
given:  "A  resolution  was  offered  (at  a  public  meeting  of 
the  citizens  held  at  the  Merchants'  Exchange)  requesting 
the  mayor  to  extend  an  invitation  to  the  Prince  who  was  in 
Canada.  *  *  *  In  a  few  days  I  received  an  answer 
directed  to  the  '  Mayor  of  Pittsburgh. '  This  letter  was  in 
the  handwriting  of  the  Duke  of  New  Castle  and  in  it  I  was 
informed  that  the  Prince  was  pleased  to  accept  the  invita- 
tion. *  *  *  Committees  were  appointed  to  meet 
the  party  and  escort  it  to  the  city  *  *  *  to  receive  the 
Prince  at  the  Fort  Wayne  depot  *  *  *  to  receive  the 
Prince  at  the  Monongahela  House  *  *  *  to  escort  the 
party  to  Coal  Hill  and  other  places  of  interest  *  *  * 
the  Duquesne  Greys  consented  to  escort  the  Prince  from  the 
depot  to  the  Monongahela  House.  *  *  *  a  vast  con- 
course of  people  was  at  the  depot  awaiting  the  arrival. 
*  *  *  In  a  few  minutes  the  train  came  in  *  *  *  and 
on  the  platform  of  the  car  stood  the  Prince  and  his  com- 
pany. *  *  *  It  was  here  that  I  had  the  honor  of  deliv- 
ering the  address  of  welcome.  *  *  *  After  a  little  con- 
fusion the  parties  were  seated  in  the  carriage.     The  Du- 

[  214  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

quesne  Greys  had  formed  a  hollow  square,  the  Prince's 
carriage  in  the  center,  *  *  *  Owing  to  the  great 
crowds  in  the  streets  progress  was  slow  and  it  was  about 
ten  o'clock  when  we  reached  the  hotel.  The  party  being 
fatigued  by  the  journey  of  the  day  retired  soon."  The 
account  goes  on  to  describe  the  procession  through  the 
principal  streets  the  next  day.  The  city  was  decorated  with 
American  and  a  few  British  flags.  The  citizens  cheered  the 
illustrious  guest,  the  ladies  waved  their  handkerchiefs  and 
gave  other  expressions  of  enthusiasm.  The  Prince  was 
described  as  very  youthful  looking,  dressed  in  light  clothing 
and  wearing  a  high  crowned  white  hat  which  did  not  look 
*'  very  becoming."  *  *  *  ''  His  manner  was  easy  and 
dignified.  His  face  did  not  indicate  a  great  amount  of  in- 
tellectuality nor  the  want  of  it.  His  features  were  good, 
with  a  little  cast  of  German  in  them,  and  his  person  was 
graceful.  He,  however,  looked  much  like  other  young  men 
brought  up  in  good  society,  and  there  was  nothing  about 
him  to  indicate  that  he  was  heir  apparent  to  the  English 
throne."  Upon  the  departure  of  the  special  train  which 
had  been  provided,  there  was  great  excitement.  Every  one 
was  anxious  to  get  a  good  view  of  him  and  the  train  was 
surrounded  by  a  crowding  multitude.  The  band  played 
' '  God  Save  the  Queen, ' '  and  a  few  minutes  past  one  o  'clock 
the  royal  party  left  for  the  east,  the  Prince  standing  on  the 
platform  of  the  rear  car  amid  the  cheering  of  the  throng 
which  bade  him  farewell  and  God  speed.  The  effect  of  this 
event  was  regarded,  generally,  as  very  helpful  to  the  city,  as 
it  inspired  favorable  comment  both  at  home  and  abroad  on 
the  cordiality  of  her  citizens  and  her  importance  as  a  com- 
mercial center. 

A  visit,  which  will  perhaps  be  remembered  and  cherished 
longer,  was  that  of  President-elect  Lincoln,  on  the  four- 
teenth and  fifteenth  of  February,  1861.  On  this  occasion  the 
city  began  to  fill  with  people  from  all  parts  of  Western 
Pennsylvania  early  in  the  day.  As  evening  came  on  the 
entire  population  was  in  the  streets,  waiting  for  the  arrival 
of  the  Presidential  party.  The  booming  of  guns,  which  was 
to  announce  the  arrival  of  the  train,  began  shortly  after  five 
o'clock,  and  the  people  crowded  about  the  depot;  but  it  was 

[  215  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

not  until  eight  o'clock  that  their  patient  waiting  was  re- 
warded. The  procession  started  for  the  Monongahela 
House  in  a  downpour  of  rain.  The  Pennsylvania  Dragoons, 
the  Jackson  Independent  Blues  and  the  Washington  In- 
fantry formed  the  military  escort,  under  the  command  of 
General  J.  S.  Negley,  followed  by  the  Coimnittee  of  Recep- 
tion, the  members  of  the  Councils  of  Pittsburgh  and  Alle- 
gheny, and  thousands  of  enthusiastic  citizens  who  were  will- 
ing to  brave  rain  and  mud  to  do  honor  to  "  Honest  Abe  " 
Lincoln.  The  dense  throng  of  people  which  surrounded  the 
hotel  and  filled  it,  had  to  be  pushed  back  with  the  bayonets 
of  the  militia  that  the  President  might  enter.  It  was  im- 
possible for  him  to  get  to  the  balcony  at  first,  as  the  parlor 
leading  to  it  was  occupied  with  ladies  and  reporters.  Mount- 
ing a  chair  in  the  hall  he  spoke  briefly  for  a  few  moments, 
alluding  to  the  inclement  weather  and  the  patience  of  the 
people  in  waiting  good  naturedly  the  arrival  of  the  delayed 
train ;  but  the  crowd  in  the  streets  continued  to  clamor  for 
a  speech  from  the  balcony  and  would  not  disperse  until  he 
appeared.  He  did  not  deliver  an  address,  however,  but 
simply  greeted  the  multitude  and  promised  to  speak  at  half- 
past  eight  the  following  morning  on  the  "  great  interests  of 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania,"  when  all  might  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  seeing  and  hearing  him.  The  people  then  departed 
for  their  homes  and  gathered  early  the  next  day,  in  spite  of 
the  rain  which  was  still  falling.  The  President-elect  spoke 
of  the  crisis  in  the  affairs  of  the  nation  as  artificial,  such  as 
might  occur  at  any  time  as  a  result  of  the  machinations  of 
the  turbulent  element  of  the  country  and  designing  poli- 
ticians, and  that  he,  as  President,  would  do  nothing  detri- 
mental to  the  integrity  of  the  Union  or  in  violation  of  the 
spirit  of  the  Constitution.  The  balance  of  his  address 
related  to  the  industries  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  Pittsburgh 
in  particular.  At  the  conclusion  he  was  driven  to  the  depot 
where  there  was  another  enthusiastic  mass  waiting  to  wit- 
ness his  departure  for  Cleveland.  The  clouds  had  cleared 
away,  and  with  the  brightness  came  intense  enthusiasm 
from  all  clases,  both  male  and  female,  for  it  was  to  him  the 
people  looked  to  clear  away  the  threatening  disruption  that 
menaced  the  peace  and  liberty  of  the  nation. 

[  216  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  seventeenth  of  September,  1862, 
the  city  was  shocked  by  the  terrific  explosion  at  the  United 
States  Arsenal,  which  totally  demolished  the  laboratory, 
killing  instantly  seventy-four  j)ersons,  boys,  girls,  men  and 
women,  and  fatally  injuring  many  others  which  swelled  the 
death  list  to  nearly  eighty.  The  wrecked  building  imme- 
diately took  fire,  and  the  sight  presented  to  the  frantic  crowd 
that  gathered  was  heartrending.  A  number  of  the  bodies 
when  recovered  were  unrecognizable.  About  ten  thousand 
tons  of  powder,  besides  hundreds  of  boxes  of  finished  shells 
and  cartridges,  were  in  the  laboratory  at  the  time  of  the 
explosion,  and  the  shock  was  distinctly  felt  throughout  the 
two  cities.  An  inquest  was  held  and  the  verdict  returned 
was  *'  that  said  explosion  was  caused  by  the  neglect  of 
Colonel  John  Symington,  the  officer  in  command  at  the 
Allegheny  Arsenal,  and  his  lieutenants,  J.  R.  Eddie  and 
Jaspar  E.  Myers ;  and  the  gross  neglect  of  Alexander  Mc- 
Bride,  superintendent  of  said  laboratory,  and  his  assistant, 
James  Thorpe."  The  exact  cause  of  the  explosion  was 
never  definitely  determined ;  it  has  even  been  attributed  to 
the  stamping  of  a  horse  on  the  stone  walk  outside  the  door- 
way, thei»eby  generating  the  fatal  spark.  The  dead  were 
buried  in  a  lot  donated  by  the  Allegheny  Cemetery  Asso- 
ciation, and  a  subscription  raised  for  the  erection  of  a 
monument  and  relief  of  the  injured  and  families  of  the 
victims. 

There  was  no  time  during  the  war  that  the  Arsenal  em- 
ployees were  not  closely  watched  for  evidences  of  disloyalty, 
and,  in  June  of  1863,  nine  were  discharged  for  this  alleged 
reason.  The  action  caused  a  great  deal  of  feeling  and  com- 
ment, both  in  and  out  of  the  public  prints.  Some  of  the 
newspapers  were  sued  for  libel  and  the  matter  was  the  sub- 
ject for  discussion  and  resolutions  in  the  city  councils,  the 
outcome  of  which  was  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to 
investigate  all  the  facts  of  the  case  and  lay  them  before  the 
Secretary  of  War  for  his  action.  However,  nothing  serious 
ever  resulted,  as  several  of  the  accused  left  the  city. 

Pittsburgh  followed  the  suit  of  other  large  cities  of  the 
country  in  1865  by  celebrating  the  fourth  of  March  as  a 
national  holiday,  a  day  of  thanksgiving  for  the  victories  of 

[  217  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

the  Union  armies  and  the  prospect  of  a  speedy  termination 
of  the  war.  The  fourth  of  March  was  chosen,  because  on 
that  day  President  Lincoln,  whose  sagacity  and  untiring 
energy  had  saved  the  Union,  was  to  renew  his  oath  of 
fidelity  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  On  that 
day  business  was  totally  suspended  between  the  hours  of 
eleven-thirty  and  three  o  'clock ;  all  the  bells  in  the  city  were 
rung  from  eleven-thirty  to  twelve  o'clock  noon;  all  the 
churches  were  opened  between  twelve  and  one  o'clock  P.  M., 
and  patriotic  addresses  were  delivered  and  prayers  offered 
therein.  In  the  evening  a  rousing  meeting  was  held  in 
Lafayette  Hall  where  the  mayor  and  several  other  speakers 
addressed  the  joyful  assemblage. 

This  celebration  was  the  first  of  three  which  occurred  in 
quick  succession;  the  second  one  coming  on  the  fourth  of 
April,  on  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  fall  of  Richmond.  A 
salute  of  one  hundred  guns  was  immediately  fired  from 
Metcalf's  Hill;  all  business  was  entirely  put  aside  and  an 
impromptu  jubilee  was  held  in  the  evening.  The  last  one 
occurred  on  Sunday  night,  the  eleventh  of  April,  upon  the 
official  announcement  of  the  surrender  of  Lee.  Bonfires 
were  kindled,  bells  rung,  big  guns  and  rockets  fired,  while 
some  gave  expression  to  their  joy  in  singing,  prayer,  and 
impassioned  addresses,  the  most  notable  of  which  perhaps 
was  the  address  delivered  by  General  Howe,  whose  acts  of 
patriotism  from  the  outbreak  of  the  war  had  been  unceas- 
ing. The  conflict  was  over  and  the  universal  cry  was  "  Lib- 
erty and  Union  now  and  forever,  one  and  inseparable. ' ' 

How  different  was  the  next  public  demonstration  a  few 
days  later.  At  twelve-forty  A.  M.,  on  the  fifteenth  of  April, 
the  dispatch  came  telling  of  the  assassination  of  President 
Lincoln  at  Fords'  Theatre.  All  business  was  immediately 
suspended  and  the  city  was,  in  the  words  of  the  Gazette, 
"  draped  in  black,  symbolical  of  the  general  gloom  and  the 
great  woe  that  sits  like  an  incubus  on  the  hearts  of  loyal 
citizens.  It  is  a  genuine  grief.  There  is  that  deep  feeling 
within  the  popular  heart  which  cannot  express  itself  in 
words  —  a  feeling  of  horror,  striving  in  its  intensit}^  with 
one  of  vengeance  on  the  fiendish  author  of  this  terrible 
crime."     There  were  meetings  of  nearly  all  societies,  a 

[  218  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

special  meeting  of  the  city  councils,  and  a  meeting  of  the 
members  of  the  bench  and  bar.  At  all  these  meetings  reso- 
lutions on  the  sad  event  were  unanimously  adopted.  The 
resolutions  of  the  bench  and  bar  were  ordered  to  be  en- 
grossed and  transmitted  to  the  family  of  the  deceased  Presi- 
dent. Eeligious  services  were  held  at  noon  on  the  nine- 
teenth of  April  in  all  the  churches,  in  accordance  with  the 
request  of  the  acting  Secretary  of  State.  In  some  of  the 
churches  there  were  funeral  services,  in  others,  simply 
prayers  and  brief  remarks.  Three  days  afterward,  on  the 
twenty-second,  business  was  again  suspended  by  order  of 
the  Governor  and  mayor,  during  the  passage  of  the  funeral 
train  through  the  State  to  Philadelphia. 

Soon  after,  when  the  cities  of  the  entire  country  were 
clamoring  for  a  sight  of  General  Grant,  an  invitation  to 
visit  Pittsburgh  was  extended  to  him  on  the  nineteenth  of 
September,  1865,  as  a  result  of  a  public  meeting  of  the 
citizens  of  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny,  called  for  the  purpose. 
He  arrived  on  the  third  of  October,  was  enthusiastically 
and  affectionately  received  and  regarded  as  the  ''  idol  of 
the  nation."  This  was  not  to  be  his  last  visit,  however;  he 
came  again  on  the  thirteenth  of  September,  1866,  in  com- 
pany with  the  President  of  the  United  States,  Andrew 
Johnson;  Admiral  Farragut,  the  great  naval  hero;  and 
Secretaries  Seward  and  Welles.  There  was  a  big  outpour- 
ing of  citizens,  but  it  must  be  said,  President  Johnson's 
reception  was  not  at  all  cordial;  the  people  were  not  all 
pleased  with  Johnson's  administration  and  refused  to  hear 
him  speak.  In  marked  contrast  to  this  was  the  enthusiastic 
welcome  accorded  Grant  and  Farragut.  General  Grant 
visited  the  city  a  third  time  as  President  of  the  United 
States  on  the  fourteenth  of  September,  1869,  when  he  met 
with  a  most  loving  reception  amounting  to  an  ovation, 
spontaneous  and  hearty. 

During  the  Fenian  demonstration  in  the  summer  of  1866, 
the  Fenian  party  in  Pittsburgh  was  very  active  in  recruit- 
ing men  for  the  Irish  army  to  invade  Canada.  A  gunboat 
was  purchased  here,  equipped  and  moved  down  the  river, 
and  extensive  purchases  of  arms  and  ammunition  were 
made.     The  troops  were  uniformed  in  green,  colors  were 

[  219  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

presented  by  the  ladies  of  the  city  who  were  loyal  to  Ire- 
land's cause,  and  the  warriors  departed  for  Ogdensburg, 
New  York,  and  the  Canadian  frontier.  Also,  a.  great  deal  of 
money  was  raised  here,  as  elsewhere,  by  the  sale  of  Irish 
national  bonds.  All  went  merrily  until  President  Johnson 
issued  a  proclamation  warning  all  citizens  from  participat- 
ing in  the  ''  unlawful  proceedings  "  of  the  Fenians;  then 
the  boys  in  green  came  home,  somewhat  dejected  but  intact. 
This  was  the  end  of  the  American-Irish  army.  The  leaders 
in  the  movement  complained  bitterly  of  President  Johnson, 
the  ''  Head  Centre,"  and  Secretary  Seward,  whom  they  had 
counted  on  as  sanctioning  their  plans,  but  no  further  efforts 
were  made  to  free  Ireland  by  force. 

The  establishment  of  a  clearing  house  in  Pittsburgh  had 
been  suggested  during  the  latter  fifties,  but  tlie  idea  did  not 
materialize  into  anything  definite,  and  it  was  not  until  the 
close  of  the  war  that  the  matter  was  again  taken  up.  The 
extensive  business  transactions  and  the  ever  increasing 
number  of  banks  made  it  apparent  that,  in  order  to  facilitate 
exchange  safely,  a  clearing  house  was  imperative.  A  meet- 
ing of  bankers  was  called  in  May,  1865,  and  a  committee  ap- 
pointed to  draw  a  constitution  and  by-laws.  The  committee 
reported  at  the  next  meeting,  June  fifth;  the  constitution 
and  by-laws  were  adopted  and  subscribed  to  by  the  eighteen 
banks  represented.  The  rooms  of  the  Association  were 
located  over  the  Bank  of  Pittsburgh,  but  there  is  no  acces- 
sible record  of  the  business  done  up  to  February  fifth,  1866. 
Mr.  John  Harper  of  the  Bank  of  Pittsburgh  was  the  first 
President,  and  R.  M.  Cust,  the  first  manager  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. Its  benefits  from  the  beginning  have  been  a  factor 
in  the  upbuilding  of  the  city's  interests. 

The  city  also  began  to  assume,  in  its  outward  aspect,  the 
appearance  of  a  metropolitan  center.  Two  new  bridges 
were  completed  in  this  decade;  the  Roebling  suspension 
bridge  in  1860  replacing  the  old  Allegheny  Bridge,  and  the 
Pittsburgh  and  Birmingham  Bridge  in  1861.  Street  letter 
boxes  were  put  up  in  various  parts  of  the  city  in  August, 
1865 ;  in  1866,  the  new  Pennsylvania  depot  wa«  opened,  and 
the  following  year  the  Monongahela  Incline  Plane  Com- 
pany was  chartered.    The  construction  of  this  unique  rail- 

[  220  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

way  to  the  hilltops  was  soon  followed  by  several  more  m 
other  parts  of  the  city,  thus  utilizing  for  resident  pur- 
poses nearby  districts  which  had  hitherto  been  in- 
accessible. 

The  demand  for  residences,  away  from  the  smoke  and 
dirt,  had  built  up  the  suburbs  of  the  city  in  such  handsome 
proportions  that  another  effort  for  consolidation  was  made 
in  1867.  It  was  successful,  however,  only  so  far  as  con- 
cerned Lawrenceville,  Peebles,  Collins,  Liberty,  Pitt  and 
Oakland,  the  districts  which  lay  between  the  two  rivers. 
The  annexed  districts  were  divided  into  fourteen  wards, 
numbering  from  ten  to  twenty-three  inclusive.  The  heavy 
taxation  of  the  city  then,  as  in  previous  and  subsequent 
attempts,  acted  against  consolidation  in  the  other  suburbs, 
and  the  opposition  carried.  The  increased  size  of  the  city 
necessitated  the  changing  the  names  of  streets  bearing  the 
same  names,  the  opening  and  paving  of  streets,  sewer  con- 
nections, etc. ;  all  of  which  called  for  an  annual  expenditure 
for  several  years  of  almost  double  the  amount  for  each 
preceding  year. 

Forbes  Street  was  laid  out  in  the  fall  of  1868,  making  an 
additional  avenue  to  the  eastern  suburbs.  A  new  City  Hall, 
the  present  one,  was  begun  August  eighth,  1868  (completed 
in  1872  at  a  cost  of  $408,790.00),  and  the  city  councils  made 
arrangements  to  contract  a  loan  of  $1,000,000.00  to  secure 
an  adequate  supply  of  pure  water.  An  addition  to  the  Court 
House  and  County  Jail  was  also  necessaiy  in  1869  to  accom- 
modate the  increased  business  of  the  court  and  county 
offices. 

On  the  thirty-first  of  August,  1869,  the  voters  of  the  city 
again  decided,  by  about  4,500  majority,  against  a  public 
park.  The  heavy  tax  levy  and  the  widespread  belief  that  the 
proposition  was  more  or  less  political  doubtless  defeated  it. 

The  population  of  the  city  in  1870  was  86,076,  an  increase 
over  1860  of  36,859. 

According  to  the  subjoined  enumeration,  which  was  pub- 
lished in  1870,  the  principal  manufactories  of  the  Pitts- 
burgh District,  with  a  population  approximating  215,000, 
at  that  time  were ; 

[  221  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Iron  Mills   32  Machine  Shops 27 

Steel  Mills 9  Cotton  Factories 5 

Copper  Mills 2  White  Lead  Factories 8 

Brass  Foundries 11  Potteries 9 

Glass  Mould  Factories 2  Tanneries   26 

Cork  Factory 1  Chair  and  Cabinet  Factories. .  19 

Breweries   52  Flouring  Mills   5 

Malleable  Iron  Foundries  ....  4  Saw  Mills 11 

Chandlers   9  Wagon  and  Car  Factories ...  12 

Plow  Factories 4  Planing  Mills 17 

Woolen  Mills 3  Locomotive  Works 2 

Refineries 51  Glass  Factories 68 

Tobacco  Factories   10  Distilleries 8 

Saw  Factories 2  Shovel  and  Axe  Factories ....  2 

Foundries  48  Safe  Factories   2 

Brickyards 13  Gas  Meter  Factory 1 

Spring  Factories 7  Tinning  Shops 4 

Spice  Mills  2  Coffin  Factory 1 

File  Factory   1  Glass  Staining  Works 3 

The  aggregate  capital  invested  in  the  seven  leading  in- 
dustries of  the  district,  including  capital  invested  in  mining 
and  transporting  coal  and  coke,  and  the  annual  value  of 
products  was: 

Amount  of  Value  of 

MANUFACTURES.  Capital  Invested.  Products. 

Iron    $50,000,000.00  $29,000,000.00 

Petroleum   9,200,000.00  8,000,000.00 

Glass 9,000,000.00  7,000,000.00 

Steel 5,000,000.00  5,460,000.00 

Ale  and  Beer 2,000,000.00  4,800,000.00 

White  Lead 1,375,000.00  2,000,000.00 

Coal  and  Coke 22,369,000.00  12,000,000.00 

Total $98,944,000.00       $68,260,000.00 


Diversified  industries,  exclusive  of  boat  building,  listed 
in  Tax  Assessors'  books: 

Amount  of  Value  of 

MANUFACTURES.                                   Capital  Investi-d  Products. 

Tanneries    $1,962,000.00  $2,300,000.00 

Tobacco  Factories 650,000 .  00  2,000,000 .  00 

Cotton  and  Woolen  Factories 1,550,000.00  1,688,000.00 

Chair  and  Cabinet  Factories 560,000.00  580,000.00 

Brass  Foundries   390,000.00  492,000.00 

Planing  Mills 580,000.00  735,000.00 

Glass  Staining  Factories 90,000.00  156,000.00 

Potteries    186,000.00  142,000.00 

Brick  Yards 180,000.00  336,000.00 

Tinning  Shops 163,000.00  362,000.00 

[    222    1 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

Amount  of  Value  of 

MANUFACTURES.                                 Capital  Invested.  Products. 

Carriage  Factories  $294,000.00  $278,000.00 

Distilleries    302,000.00  2,984,000.00 

Wagon  Factories 160,000.00  286,000.00 

Brush  Factories 33,000.00  62,000.00 

Marble  Yards 148,000.00  326,000.00 

Bellows  Factories 40,000.00  70,000.00 

Total $7,288,000.00  $12,797,000.00 


Amount  of  Value  of 

MANUFACTURE.                                      Capital  Invested.  Products. 

Boat  building  (estimated) $500,000 .  00  $1,000,000 .  00 

Miscellaneous  Manufactories  on  which 
no     definite    returns     were     received 

(estimated)  2,750,000.00  7,000,000.00 


Summary. 
Grand  Total  —  amount  of  Capital  invested $106,732,000.00 


Grand  Total  —  amount  of  Products. $82,057,000 .  00 


1870-1880.  The  flourisliing  condition  of  the  years  im- 
mediately succeeding  the  war  began  to  wane  in  the  latter 
part  of  1869,  and  during  1870-71  there  was  not  much  of 
promise.  The  most  striking  feature  of  these  years  was  the 
establishment  of  upwards  of  twenty  banks,  National  and 
Savings,  and  Trust  Companies  in  the  two  cities.  But  in 
spite  of  this  the  financial  condition  was  anything  but 
promising;  there  had  been  too  much  inflation,  but  the  ex- 
cited ones  refused  to  see  the  impending  panic  and  pointed 
out  that  conditions  were  similar  to  those  during  the  scare 
of  1864,  and  that  the  country  was  too  prosperous  to  suffer 
seriously.  The  newspapers  also  refused  to  see  danger, 
even  after  the  failure  of  Jay  Cooke  and  Company  in  New 
York,  which  precipitated  the  panic,  and  assured  the  public 
that  Pittsburgh  concerns  were  ^'  as  sound  as  before  the 
crisis  and  worthy  of  unabated  credit;"  but  the  subsequent 
failures  in  rapid  succession,  beginning  within  two  days  and 
continuing  for  months,  told  a  different  story.  Bank  after 
bank  and  business  firm  after  business  firm  went  down  in 

[  223  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

the  avalanche  of  punctured  inflation  that  paralyzed  thei 
country.  The  magic  of  the  speculators  and  the  financiers, 
had  again  failed  to  create  real  prosperity  where  the  actual 
evolution  of  the  inexorable  laws  of  nature  and  of  supply 
and  demand  had  failed.  But  to  the  credit  of  Pittsburgh's 
banking  institutions,  be  it  said,  they  stood  by  the  business 
men  to  the  limit  of  their  ability,  thus  enabling  many  to 
withstand  the  shock  who  would  otherwise  have  fallen.  The 
crisis  developed  the  fact  that  the  violations  of  law  among 
officials,  and  of  banking  and  financial  institutions,  which 
were  so  common  over  the  country,  had  also  prevailed  here. 
Some  of  the  banks  had  loaned  beyond  their  authorized 
limit  in  financing  pet  projects  of  favorites.  There  were 
also  one  or  two  instances  of  defalcation  by  officials  which 
added  to  the  chaotic  condition.  The  distress  continued 
throughout  the  following  year;  recovery  was  slow,  capital 
was  timid,  and  there  was  a  widespread  distrust  of  banking 
institutions  among  the  industrial  and  middle  classes,  who 
felt  more  secure  in  hoarding  their  money.  As  a  partial 
analysis  of  the  panic  and  its  causes  after  conditions  were 
somewhat  readjusted,  the  following  from  the  Commercial 
of  July  thirtieth,  1875,  is  quoted,  and  apropos  of  recent 
panics  the  same  is  peculiarly  applicable:  ''In  no  single 
instance  of  the  failure  of  a  banking  enterprise  has  the  cause 
been  within  the  sphere  of  legitimate  speculations.  Since 
the  year  1860,  from  actual  personal  knowledge,  we  can 
trace  the  reason  of  each  and  every  bank  failure  to  causes 
completely  outside  and  foreign  to  the  field  of  legitimate 
financial  enterprise.  Even  during  the  panic  of  1873  the 
suspensions  which  occurred  have  proved  this  position.  In- 
stance the  Savings  and  Deposit  Bank  of  East  Liberty, 
which,  upon  winding  up  its  affairs,  shows  not  only  unim- 
paired capital,  but  actually  a  surplus  of  earnings  of  nearly 
or  quite  30  per  cent,  after  the  payment  of  all  depositors. '  * 

In  the  midst  of  an  abundance  of  mineral  wealth,  where 
the  constant  work  of  hand  and  brain  consisted  in  trans- 
forming the  raw  products  of  nature  into  finished  forms,  it 
seems  strange  that  natural  gas,  one  of  the  most  powerful 
levers  in  effecting  the  various  transformations,  was  not 
earlier   applied.      The   fact   that  natural   gas   existed  in 

[  224  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

various  parts  of  Allegheny  and  surrounding  counties  had 
been  known  for  years.  It  almost  invariably  appeared 
wherever  an  oil  well  was  bored,  and  that  it  was  inflammable 
was  also  known;  yet  its  value  and  employment  as  a  heat 
and  power  producing  agent,  as  a  possible  factor  in  the 
industry  of  Pittsburgh,  was  apparently  never  thought  of 
up  to  the  year  1875,  when  the  Natural  Gas  Company 
Limited  was  organized  by  Graff,  Bennett  and  Co.,  Spang, 
Chalfant  and  Co.,  J.  J.  Vandergrift,  John  Pitcairn,  Jr., 
Henry  Harley,  W.  K.  Vandergrift,  and  Charles  W.  Batch- 
elor.  As  in  nearly  all  pioneer  movements  in  the  applica- 
tion of  new  forces,  the  project  was  looked  upon  as  im- 
practicable, though  the  fact  was  well  known  that  natural 
gas  had  been  used  for  both  fuel  and  light  in  the  oil  country 
for  many  years.  But  in  this  instance,  as  in  many  others 
prominent  in  the  history  of  Pittsburgh,  the  level  headed 
and  progressive  men  won.  To-day,  natural  gas,  in  addition 
to  being  piped  from  Butler  county  wells,  less  than  twenty 
miles  away,  is  conveyed  a  distance  of  a  hundred  miles  and 
more.  The  industry  was  controlled  by  several  companies, 
the  largest  of  which  was  the  Philadelphia  Company,  up  to 
the  recent  consolidation.  Millions  of  dollars  are  invested 
in  the  control  of  territory,  pipe  lines,  tanks,  equipment,  etc. 

One  of  the  most  striking  demonstrations  of  the  barbarism 
which  lies  beneath  the  veneer  of  civilization  was  brought 
forth  by  the  great  railroad  riots  of  1877.  The  wanton  de- 
struction of  property  and  life  in  the  various  centers  of 
the  trouble,  by  the  lawless,  who  had  no  grievance  against 
the  railroad  companies,  startled  the  world,  and  there  were 
many  who  thought  the  oft  predicted  war  between  Labor 
and  Capital  had  come. 

The  reign  of  terror  began  in  Baltimore  on  the  morning 
of  the  sixteenth  of  July,  when  forty  men  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad  left  their  trains  to  join  the  striking  fire- 
men and  brakemen  who  had  gone  out  the  previous  week, 
refusing  to  submit  to  a  10  per  cent,  reduction  in  their 
wages.  The  places  of  the  forty  men  were  quickly  filled  by 
experienced  men  who  had  been  unemployed  for  some  time ; 
but  all  trains  were  forcibly  stopped  at  Camden  Junction, 
three  miles  west  of  the  city,  and  were  not  allowed  to  run 
15  [  225  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

either  way.  Prom  Baltimore  the  trouble  spread  to  Mar- 
tinsburg,  West  Virginia,  and  assumed  such  proportions 
and  seriousness  that  it  could  not  be  overcome  by  the  State 
authorities,  and  Governor  Matthews  called  on  the  national 
government  for  aid.  A  proclamation  was  issued  by  Presi- 
dent Hayes,  ordering  the  rioters  to  disperse,  and  a  force 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  regulars,  armed  with  rifles  and  a 
gatling-gun,  was  ordered  to  Martinsburg.  They  arrived 
on  the  nineteenth  and  the  blockade  was  partially  raised; 
but  the  trouble  quickly  spread  to  other  roads  and  places. 
An  idea  of  its  magnitude  may  be  gained  from  the  fact  that 
all  the  great  lines  of  the  country  were  affected;  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio,  including  the  main  and  leased  lines,  the 
Pennsylvania  Central  and  its  branches,  the  New  York  Cen- 
tral &  Hudson  River  Railroad,  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan 
Central,  and  the  Erie  Railroad,  all  employing  a  total  of 
84,000  men. 

The  strike  began  in  Pittsburgh  on  the  morning  of  the 
nineteenth,  Thursday,  when  the  freight  crews  left  their 
trains  because  the  company  had  made  a  10  per  cent,  cut  in 
their  wages,  had  doubled  the  number  of  cars  for  each  train, 
and  also,  the  length  of  trip,  without  increasing  the  crews. 
All  freight  trains  were  stopped  in  the  freight  yards,  and 
the  ranks  of  the  strikers  were  constantly  augmented  by  the 
lawless  element  from  the  mills,  the  malicious  unemployed, 
and  the  idle  toughs  who  flocked  to  the  scene  at  and  around 
the  Twenty-eighth  street  roundhouse  and  took  possession 
of  the  company's  property.  The  strikers  were  lost  in  the 
mob  that  had  gathered,  thirsting  to  satiate  their  hatred  of 
the  railroad  company  which  had  been  fostered  and  nurtured 
for  years,  partly  through  the  efforts  of  the  newspapers,  on 
account  of  the  alleged  discrimination  and  favoritism  prac- 
ticed by  the  company. 

The  community  had  been  impressed  that  the  ^'  Railroad 
Vultures  "  were  "  constantly  preying  upon  the  wealth  and 
resources  of  the  country;  "  *  *  *  they  were  "  a  class, 
as  it  were,  of  money  jugglers  intent  only  on  practicing  their 
trickery  for  self-aggrandizement,  and  that  consequently 
their  greed  leads  them  into  all  known  ways  and  byways  of 
fraud,  scheming  and  speculating  to  accomplish  the  amassing 

[  226  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

of  princely  fortunes."  This  and  like  utterances  had  pre- 
pared an  atmosphere  that  was  conducive  to  the  enactment 
of  the  deeds  of  violence  of  that  day  and  succeeding  ones. 

The  railroad  officials  called  upon  the  Mayor  to  disperse 
the  mob  and  protect  their  property,  but  the  city  authorities, 
when  they  arrived,  were  defied.  In  an  attempt  to  arrest  a 
man  who  had  assaulted  a  railroad  official,  when  he  was 
turning  a  switch,  the  police  were  stoned  by  the  mob,  but 
they  landed  their  man  in  the  station  house  while  the  mob 
gathered  without  and  threatened  to  release  their  comrade 
by  force.     This,  however,  they  did  not  carry  out. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  strikers  in  the  evening,  they  demanded 
that  the  company  continue  the  former  wage  and  revoke  the 
order  for  *'  double  headers."  It  is  just  at  this  point, 
according  to  good  authority,  that  a  little  wise  counsel, 
coupled  with  a  firm  hand  to  enforce  it,  with  equal  justice 
to  both  parties,  would  have  averted  the  disasters  of  the 
succeeding  days.  But  the  seed  of  hatred  that  had  been 
sown  bore  the  fruit  of  lawlessness  and  destruction.  The 
railroad  company,  alarmed  at  the  increasing  proportions 
of  the  mob,  called  on  the  sheriif,  who  responded,  ordering 
the  mob  to  disperse,  wliich  they  refused  to  do,  whereupon 
the  sheriff  called  upon  General  Pearson  for  assistance. 
The  18th  and  19th  Regiments,  National  Guard  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, were  ordered  out  the  next  day  upon  authority  of 
Adjutant-General  Latta.  They  were  stationed  around  the 
Union  depot  and  at  various  points  in  the  yard  and  along 
the  hillside. 

In  addition  to  ordering  out  the  militia  of  Pittsburgh,  the 
Governor,  for  some  reason,  ordered  General  Brinton's 
troops  from  Philadelphia  to  the  scene  in  Pittsburgh.  The 
effect  of  this  stirred  the  rioters  to  still  deeper  anger,  and 
the  feeling  even  spread  to  the  newspapers,  one  of  which  in 
its  issue  of  the  twentieth  published  the  following:  '*  The 
workingmen  everywhere  are  in  fullest  sympathy  with  the 
strikers,  and  only  waiting  to  see  whether  they  are  in  earnest 
enough  to  fight  for  their  rights.  They  would  all  join  and 
help  them  the  moment  an  actual  conflict  took  place,  *  *  * 
the  laboring  people  who  mostly  constitute  the  militia,  won 't 
take  up  arms  to  put  down  their  brethren.      Will  capital 

[  227  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

then  rely  on  the  United  States  Army?  Pshaw!  *  *  * 
The  workingmen  of  this  country  can  capture  and  hold  it, 
if  they  will  only  stick  together,  and  it  looks  as  though  they 
were  going  to  do  so  this  time  *  *  *  the  working  army 
would  have  the  most  and  the  best  men.  The  war  might  be 
bloody,  but  the  right  would  prevail.  *  *  *  Men  Hke  (here 
prominent  Pennsylvania  Railroad  officials  were  named), 
who  have  got  rich  swindling  the  stockholders  of  railroads, 
so  that  they  cannot  pay  honest  labor  living  rates,  we  would 
hang  to  the  nearest  tree." 

By  the  next  morning  there  were  about  two  thousand  cars 
tied  up  in  the  freight  yard  down  town,  and  thousands  of 
perishing  animals  in  cars  at  the  East  Liberty  Stock  Yards. 
The  Philadelphia  troops  arrived  on  Saturday  afternoon, 
the  twenty-first,  and  proceeded  to  the  scene  at  Twenty- 
eighth  street.  "  Possession  of  the  crossing  and  round 
house  was  disputed  by  the  mob,  and  a  consultation  was  held 
by  the  officers  in  command  with  Superintendent  Pitcairn 
and  Sheriff  Fife,  after  which  the  latter  read  the  riot  act, 
having  in  his  pocket  warrants  for  the  arrest  of  fifteen  of 
the  ring  leaders.  He  proceeded  to  make  an  arrest.  The 
man  approached  waving  his  hat,  and  calling  to  the  crowd 
and  the  strikers,  said:  '  Give  them  Hell.'  Immediately  a 
shower  of  stones  was  hurled  into  the  troops,  and  one  re- 
volver shot  fired  into  the  ranks.  General  Brinton  then 
ordered  his  men  to  fire.  It  was  claimed  that  General  Pear- 
son, Commander  of  the  Sixth  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania 
State  Guard,  had  directed  the  troops  to  fire  before  any 
resistance  had  been  made.  About  twenty  persons,  among 
them  three  children,  were  killed  and  as  many  more  wounded, 
some  of  whom  were  of  those  who  had  gathered  on  the  hill- 
side above  the  tracks  merely  as  spectators.  While  Bishop 
Tuigg  was  endeavoring  to  pacify  the  rioters  they  demanded 
the  whereabouts  of  General  Pearson,  and  failing  to  learn 
where  he  was  a  party  attacked  his  dwelling  and  completely 
sacked  it,  leaving  nothing  whole  from  garret  to  cellar.  His 
family,  however,  were  not  injured. ' ' 

''  At  half -past  five  o'clock  the  crossing  was  in  possession 
of  the  military,  and  shortly  after  they  were  marched  in  the 
Round  House  where  it  was   thought  they  would   obtain 

[  228  ] 


'ev/ 


*■;%■''/ *''^i" 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

greater  protection  from  the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the 
crowd.  About  ten  o  'clock  in  the  evening  a  mob,  numbering 
several  thousand  men,  had  congregated  about  the  Round 
House.  They  had  previously  captured  the  guns  belonging 
to  Hutchinson's  Battery,  a  local  organization,  and  they 
planted  them  so  as  to  cover  the  Round  House.  Several 
solid  shots  were  fired  at  the  building,  and  a  breach  made 
in  the  walls.  When  the  infuriated  mob  attempted  to  rush 
into  the  building,  however,  the  military  were  ordered  to 
fire,  and  sent  a  volley  of  musketry  at  the  crowd.  Find- 
ing it  difficult  to  dislodge  the  military  from  the  building, 
they  resolved  to  burn  them  out.  While  a  portion  of  the 
mob  surrounded  the  building  in  which  the  military  had 
taken  refuge,  large  bodies  proceeded  to  set  fire  to  the  oil 
cars,  and  in  a  moment  huge  volumes  of  black  smoke  rolled 
upwards,  followed  by  lurid  flames  reaching  out  in  every 
direction,  telling  that  the  work  of  the  destruction  of  prop- 
erty had  begun. 

'^  Train  after  train  was  fired  by  the  infuriated  crowd, 
but  the  cars  were  so  far  distant  from  the  Round  House 
that  the  heat  did  not  seriously  affect  the  military.  Finally 
a  large  party  of  strikers  captured  a  car  filled  with  coke, 
which  they  ran  from  the  Allegheny  Valley  Railway  track 
to  a  siding  connecting  with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad. 
They  then  procured  large  quantities  of  petroleum,  and 
pouring  it  over  the  coke,  ignited  the  pile.  In  a  very  few 
minutes  the  car  was  a  mass  of  fire,  and  it  was  then  pushed 
along  the  tracks  and  forced  against  the  Round  House. 

''  The  building  was  soon  ignited,  and  the  soldiers  were 
now  compelled  to  prepare  to  fight  their  way  out  through  the 
frenzied  mass  of  humanity  clamoring  for  their  blood.  The 
building  did  not  burn  as  rapidly  as  desired,  and  the  mob, 
bent  on  revenge,  rushed  up  the  road  and  sent  burning  trains 
down  towards  the  doomed  buildings.  From  midnight  until 
five  o'clock  on  Thursday  morning  the  main  efforts  of  the 
crowd  were  directed  to  firing  the  buildings  and  cars,  but 
about  half  an  hour  later  the  mob  which  had  been  besieging 
the  military  left  the  grounds  for  some  unexplained  reason. 
This  afforded  the  troops,  who  were  in  actual  danger  of 
being  roasted  alive,  an  opportunity  to  emerge  from  the 

[  229  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

building,  and  they  succeeded  in  reaching  Liberty  Street  in 
a  very  few  moments.  They  quickly  formed  a  line  and 
marched  up  to  Thirty-third  Street  and  thence  to  Penn 
Avenue  and  Butler  Street.  The  objective  point  was  the 
United  States  Arsenal,  where  they  expected  to  obtain 
shelter.  While  turning  into  Butler  Street,  however,  the 
leaders  of  the  mob,  who  had  been  informed  of  their  retreat, 
brought  fully  one  thousand  rioters,  armed  and  supplied 
with  ammunition,  after  them  in  hot  pursuit.  Some  of  the 
troops  fired  at  the  rioters  as  they  moved  along  the  street, 
which  only  stirred  the  mob  to  greater  fury. 

^'  When  the  troops  reached  the  Arsenal  the  commandant 
refused  to  admit  them.  He  said  he  had  only  ten  men,  and 
would  be  powerless  to  hold  the  place  if  the  mob  should 
attack  it.  He  consented  to  take  care  of  the  wounded,  and 
they  were  accordingly  carried  into  the  hospital.  The  main 
body  of  the  troops  continued  their  march  along  Butler 
Street,  a  constant  fusillade  upon  them  being  kept  up  by  the 
mob  as  they  moved  forward.  The  column  continued  its 
flight  and  crossed  over  to  the  north  side  of  the  Allegheny 
river  on  the  Sharpsburg  Bridge,  the  mob  following  as 
rapidly  as  possible.  After  reaching  the  north  side  the 
troops  scattered,  and  in  this  way  the  mob  was  divided  into 
very  small  bodies. 

'*  While  the  Round  House  at  Pittsburgh,  with  the  Phila- 
delphia troops  imprisoned  within,  was  burning,  the  mob, 
augmented  by  many  women  and  children,  inaugurated  a 
very  carnival  of  destruction.  Many  of  the  stores  near  the 
depot  contained  quantities  of  liquor.  Before  they  were 
fired  the  mob  rolled  out  barrel  after  barrel,  knocked  in  the 
heads  and  distributed  whisky  and  brandy  to  their  excited 
associates.  The  extreme  drunkenness  of  the  crowd  proba- 
bly ended  the  troubles  during  the  night,  for  at  an  early 
hour  in  the  morning  the  troops  saw  thousands  of  the  rough 
element  sleeping  off  the  effects  of  their  frequent  and  heavy 
potations. 

"After  the  mob  gained  the  mastery  in  Pittsburgh,  they 
broke  into  Johnson 's  gun-factory  on  Smithfield  Street,  and, 
helping  themselves  to  guns  and  revolvers,  visited  Brown's 
establishment  on  Wood  Street,  completely  gutted  it,  and 

[  230  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

then  marched  down  Fifth  Avenue  with  drums  beating  and 
flags  flying  in  a  body  three  thousand  strong  to  join  their 
associates  in  the  work  of  arson  and  pillage.  The  round- 
house beyond  the  Union  Depot  was  burned,  and  over  a  hun- 
dred locomotives  destroyed.  All  the  machine  shops  and  rail- 
road offices  in  the  vicinity  were  also  fired.  The  rioters 
planted  a  cannon  in  the  streets  near  by,  and  threatened  to 
blow  in  pieces  any  man  who  attempted  to  extinguish  the 
flames.  The  firemen,  thus  intimidated,  retired,  and  de- 
voted themselves  to  saving  private  property  only.  From 
the  time  the  torch  was  applied  to  the  first  car,  at  eleven 
0  'clock  Saturday  night,  all  night  long,  and  the  greater  part 
of  Sunday  morning,  car  after  car  was  taken  possession  of 
by  the  incendiaries,  the  torch  applied,  and  the  burning, 
fiery  mass  sent  whirling  down  the  track  among  the  2,500 
cars  filled  with  valuable  cargoes  of  freight  of  all  descrip- 
tions, and  costly  passenger  cars  and  sleeping  and  day 
coaches,  spreading  destruction  on  every  hand. 

^'  The  scenes  transpiring  on  Liberty  Street,  along  the 
line  of  which  the  tracks  of  the  railroad  run  on  an  elevation 
fifteen  or  twenty  feet  above  the  street,  simply  beggar  de- 
scription. While  hundreds  were  engaged  in  firing  the  cars 
and  making  certain  of  the  destruction  of  the  valuable 
buildings  at  the  outer  depot,  thousands  of  men,  women  and 
children  engaged  in  pillaging  the  cars.  Men  armed  with 
heavy  sledges,  keeping  ahead  of  the  fire  which  was  running 
west  toward  the  Union  Depot,  broke  open  the  cars,  and 
threw  the  contents  to  the  crowd  below.  The  street  was 
almost  completed  blockaded  by  persons  laboring  to  carry  off 
the  plunder  they  had  gathered  together.  In  hundreds  of 
instances  wagons  were  pressed  into  service  to  enable 
thieves  to  get  away  with  their  goods.  Some  of  the  scenes, 
notwithstanding  the  terror  which  seemed  to  paralyze 
peaceable  and  orderly  citizens,  were  ludricrous  in  the 
highest  degree.  Here  a  brawny  woman  could  be  seen 
hurrying  away  with  pairs  of  white  kid  slippers  under  her 
arms ;  another,  carrying  an  infant,  would  be  rolling  a  barrel 
of  flour  along  the  sidewalk,  using  her  feet  as  the  propelling 
power;  here  a  man  pushing  a  wheelbarrow  loaded  with 
white  lead.      Boys  hurried  through  the  crowd  with  large- 

[  231  ] 


THE  HISTOEY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

sized  family  Bibles  as  their  share  of  the  plunder,  while 
scores  of  females  utilized  aprons  and  dresses  to  carry 
flour,  eggs,  dry-goods,  etc.  Bundles  of  umbrellas,  fancy 
parasols,  hams,  bacon,  leaf  lard,  calico,  blankets,  laces,  and 
flour  were  mixed  together  in  the  arms  of  robust  men,  or 
carried  on  hastily  constructed  hand-barrows.  In  one  place 
where  barrels  of  flour  had  been  rolled  from  the  cars  and 
over  the  wall  to  the  street  below,  breaking  with  the  fall, 
heaps  of  flour  were  piled  up  several  feet  in  depth.  In  these 
the  women  were  rolling  and  fighting  in  their  eagerness  to 
get  all  they  could.  In  their  greed  they  were  not  satisfied 
with  aprons  full,  but,  holding  out  the  skirts  of  their  dresses, 
they  ploughed  into  the  heaps  till  they  had  all  they  could 
carry,  then  staggered  off,  covered  from  head  to  feet  with 
flour.  Many  of  the  plunderers  pelted  each  other  and  every 
one  else  they  could  reach  with  stolen  goods.  One  of  our 
artists,  Mr.  Alexander,  while  sketching  the  scene  from  the 
roof  of  a  low  building  near  by,  was  repeatedly  struck  with 
lemons,  oranges  and  other  articles  of  plunder  aimed  at 
his  head. 

'  *  But  to  return  to  the  fire.  By  three  o  'clock  on  Sunday 
afternoon  the  flames  had  nearly  reached  the  Union  Depot. 
But  the  mob  was  impatient.  The  burning  cars  driven 
under  the  adjacent  sheds  had  ignited  them,  but  the  work 
was  slow.  The  rioters  thereupon  rushed  into  the  depot- 
master's  office,  a  two-story  frame  building  at  the  extreme 
end  of  the  shed  on  the  north  side  of  the  platform,  and 
bursting  open  the  desks  and  closets,  scattered  the  books 
and  papers  over  the  floor,  and  throwing  oil  upon  them 
applied  the  match,  and  soon  the  whole  structure  was  in 
flames, 

' '  *  The  Union  Depot  is  on  fire !  '  was  an  announcement 
that  spread  like  a  flash  of  lighting  throughout  the  city,  and 
thousands  of  people  at  once  crowded  all  the  avenues  lead- 
ing to  the  scene.  The  people  seemed  entirely  reckless  of 
the  danger  in  their  wild  anxiety  to  see  the  sight.  The 
hillside  above  the  depot  was  covered  with  people  thick  as 
leaves  upon  forest  trees.  Every  available  point  of  view 
was  taken  up.  Hundreds  climbed  to  the  high  tower  in  the 
City  Hall,  and  from  that  altitude  had  a  magnificent  view  of 

[  232  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

the  scene.  As  the  smoke  rolled  up  toward  the  sky  it 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  people  in  Allegheny,  and  the 
sides  of  Observatory  Hill  were  lined  with  sight-seers,  the 
most  of  them  children,  who  from  that  far-away  point  took 
in  the  wild  grandeur  of  the  scene  almost  as  well  as  those 
who  were  nearer  at  hand.  The  crowds  on  Liberty  Street 
were  dense  as  far  as  Smithfield  Street,  while  scattered 
groups  along  the  street  toward  the  river  viewed  the  fiend 
of  flame  as  it  licked  up  the  magnificent  structure.  Efforts 
were  made  to  save  the  grain  elevator  near  by,  but  the 
crowd,  thinking  it  belonged  to  the  railroad  company,  re- 
fused to  allow  the  firemen  to  come  near,  and  it  too  was 
destroyed.  The  Panhandle  Depot  on  Grant  Street,  and 
the  locomotive  shop  on  Quarry  Street,  met  the  same  fate. 
When  this  last  building  was  fired,  the  whole  territory  be- 
tween Seventh  Avenue  and  Millvale  Station,  a  distance  of 
three  miles,  was  a  wall  of  fire,  and  before  sunset  not  a 
railroad  building  nor  a  car  of  the  Pennsylvania  and  Pan- 
handle railroads  was  left  unburned  in  Pittsburgh     *     *     *. 

*'At  12:30  Sunday  morning  a  committee  appointed  by  a 
citizen's  meeting  tried  to  open  a  consultation  with  the  mob, 
but  were  promptly  driven  away.  The  committee  saw  that 
those  they  had  to  do  with  were  not  dissatisfied  railroad 
employees,  but  only  a  mob  of  the  vilest  of  the  city's  popula- 
tion, at  whose  mercy  was  the  entire  property  of  the  city, 
a  mass  of  men  drunken  with  unrestrained  passions  and 
continuous  indulgence  in  the  whisky  and  wines  obtained 
from  the  plundered  cars.  It  was  a  mob  in  its  most  com- 
plete form,  there  being  neither  organization  nor  leader,  but 
each  man  or  party  of  men  doing  what  the  frenzy  or  chance 
for  plunder  for  the  moment  suggested.  Some  of  the 
original  strikers  having  been  found,  they  promised  to 
attend  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  at  four  o  'clock  and  arrange 
to  aid  in  suppressing  the  incendiarism,  and  they  were  as 
good  as  their  word,  showing,  as  before  stated,  that  the 
railroad  strikers  were  not  of  the  mob  and  did  not  counte- 
nance the  violence. 

'*At  this  meeting  the  Mayor  was  authorized  to  enroll 
five  hundred  police,  but  the  accounts  of  the  day  say  that 
the  ranks  filled  up  slowly.     In  the  earlier  hours  of  the  mob 

[  233  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

when  the  Mayor  was  first  appealed  to,  although  prompt  in 
his  endeavor  to  check  the  turbulence,  his  efforts  were  re- 
tarded by  the  want  of  support  he  should  have  had  from 
the  police,  which,  not  understanding  the  personal  char- 
acteristics of  the  mob,  and  permeated  by  a  sympathy  with 
the  strikers,  were  backward  in  supporting  the  city  author- 
ities. *  *  *  The  state  of  terror  continued  through  all  of 
Sunday  night,  and  on  Monday  morning  the  mob  still  reigned 
supreme. 

"  On  Monday  morning,  at  eleven  o'clock,  a  meeting  of 
citizens  was  called  to  convene  at  the  Chamber  of  Commerce 
to  form  a  Committee  of  Public  Safety  to  take  charge  of  the 
situation,  as  the  city  authorities,  the  Sheriff  and  the 
military  seemed  powerless.  At  this  meeting  the  following 
Committee  of  Public  Safety  was  appointed:  William  G. 
Johnston,  chairman;  John  Moorhead,  Paul  Hacke,  Ralph 
Bagaley,  George  Wilson,  J.  J.  Gillespie,  G.  Schleiter,  J.  G. 
Weldon,  George  H,  Thurston,  James  J.  Donnell,  James  B. 
Haines,  George  A.  Kelly,  F.  H.  Eaton,  J.  E.  Schwartz, 
Joseph  Home,  William  T.  Dunn,  R.  G.  Jones,  Dr.  Mc- 
intosh, Frank  Bisel,  John  R.  McCune,  John  M.  Davis,  John 
B.  Jackson,  R.  C.  Grey,  Alexander  Bradley,  Captain  Samuel 
Harper. 

"  On  motion,  George  H.  Thurston,  George  A.  Kelly,  John 
M.  Davis  were  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  an  ad- 
dress to  the  public,  and  in  a  short  time  presented  the  follow- 
ing, which  was  adopted  and  ordered  to  be  at  once  published : 

"  '  The  Committee  of  Public  Safety,  appointed  at  the 
meeting  of  citizens  held  at  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  July 
twenty-third,  deeming  that  the  allaying  of  excitement -is  the 
first  step  towards  restoring  order,  would  urge  upon  all 
citizens  disposed  to  aid  therein  the  necessity  of  pursuing 
their  usual  avocation,  and  keeping  all  their  employees  at 
work,  and  would,  therefore,  request  that  full  compliance  be 
accorded  to  this  demand  of  the  committee.  The  committee 
are  impressed  with  the  belief  that  the  police  force  now 
being  organized  will  be  able  to  arrest  and  disperse  all  riot- 
ous assemblages,  and  that  much  of  the  danger  of  destruc- 
tion to  property  has  passed,  and  that  an  entire  restoration 
of  order  will  be  established.     The  committee  believe  that 

[  234  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

the  mass  of  industrious  workmen  of  the  city  are  on  the  side 
of  law  and  order,  and  a  number  of  the  so-called  strikers  are 
already  in  the  ranks  of  the  defenders  of  the  city,  and  it  is 
quite  probable  that  any  further  demonstration  will  proceed 
from  thieves  and  similar  classes  of  population,  with  whom 
our  working  classes  have  no  affiliation  and  will  not  be  found 
among  them. 

"  '  It  is  to  this  end  that  the  committee  request  that  all 
classes  of  business  should  be  prosecuted  as  usual,  and  our 
citizens  refrain  from  congregating  in  the  streets  in  crowds, 
so  that  the  police  of  the  city  may  not  be  confused  in  their 
efforts  to  arrest  rioters,  and  the  military  be  not  restrained 
from  prompt  action,  if  necessary,  from  fear  of  injuring  the 
innocent. ' 

''At  this  meeting  Major  T.  Brent  Swearingen  was  di- 
rected to  take  charge  of  organizing  the  citizens  who  might 
desire  to  form  organizations  for  the  protection  of  the  city. 
A  Vigilance  Committee  was  also  authorized  to  be  formed 
under  charge  of  General  Negley  and  Major  Swearingen, 
and  establish  headquarters  at  Lafayette  Hall. 

''  In  other  sections  of  the  country  the  railroad  troubles 
were  increasing  and  the  committee  thought  best  to  call 
Major  General  Joe  Brown  and  Colonel  Guthrie  of  the 
Eighteenth  National  Guards,  into  consultation.  Under  their 
advice  a  camp  was  formed  of  the  military  at  East  Liberty, 
to  be  held  in  readiness  for  any  further  outbreak.  Mayor 
McCarthy  enrolled  five  hundred  extra  police  and  issued  a 
proclamation  in  which  he  said,  '  I  have  determined  that 
peace,  order  and  quiet  shall  be  restored  to  the  community, 
and  to  this  end  call  upon  all  good  citizens  to  come  forward 
at  once  to  the  old  City  Hall  and  unite  with  the  police  and 
military  now  organizing.  I  call  upon  all  to  continue  quietly 
at  their  several  places  of  business  and  refrain  from  par- 
ticipating in  excited  assemblages,' 

"A  proclamation  had  also  been  previously  issued  by  Gov- 
ernor Hartranft,  and  he  had  come  to  Pittsburgh  to  address 
the  rioters,  and  subsequently  some  two  or  three  thousand 
troops  were  ordered  by  him  to  Pittsburgh,  and  were  en- 
camped near  East  Liberty  for  several  days.  Under  these 
vigorous  measures  quiet  was  in  a  few  days  restored,  and  the 

[  235  ] 


THE  HISTOEY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

railroad  riots  of  Pittsburgh  were  a  thing  of  the  past,  al- 
though the  Committee  of  Public  Safety  continued  to  hold 
sessions  and  to  take  steps  not  only  to  prevent  any  further 
demonstrations,  but  to  arrest  and  bring  to  punishment  a 
number  of  the  prominent  rioters.  The  mistake  of  allowing 
a  collection  of  thieves  and  similar  vagabonds  to  assimilate 
themselves  with  a  mere  handful  of  strikers  and  thus  become 
the  mob  it  did  was  the  first  error  in  the  efforts  to  control 
the  mob.  The  next  was  calling  out  the  military  before  the 
civil  authorities  had  exhausted  their  power,  and  the  greatest 
of  all  was  the  bringing  of  the  troops  from  the  east. 

"  Every  step  taken  until  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety 
took  charge  of  affairs  only  tended  to  enrage  the  working 
classes,  instead  of  quieting  them  to  a  point  of  reason.  It 
gave  demagogues  and  bad  men  the  opportunity  to  play 
upon  the  passions  of  the  masses,  and  what  was  a  mere,  in 
one  sense,  harmless  strike  of  a  few  dissatisfied  railroad 
employees,  who  intended  no  violence,  became  the  terrible 
riot  for  which  claims  were  made  on  Allegheny  county  for 
damages  to  the  amount  of  $4,100,000.00,  which  the  Commis- 
sioners settled  for  $2,772,349.53.  Of  this  sum  $1,600,000.00 
went  to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  whose  claim  for  $2,313,- 
000.00  was  settled  for  that  sum.  The  public  learned  the 
danger  of  sympathizing  with  mobs  to  gratify  feelings  of 
private  hostility;  the  county  and  city  a  lesson  it  will  not 
care  to  have  repeated. 

^  ' '  In  addition  to  the  buildings  already  specified  as  burned, 
there  were  1,383  freight  cars,  104  locomotives  and  66  pas- 
senger coaches  destroyed.  Twenty-five  persons  in  all  were 
killed." 

Many  improvements  incident  to  the  growth  of  the  city 
were  inaugurated  from  year  to  year.  In  1870  the  paid  Fire 
Department  was  installed  by  Act  of  Legislature,  and  the 
new  water  works,  the  basis  of  the  present  system,  were 
begun,  although  they  were  not  put  into  operation  until  nine 
years  after  their  commencement.  The  first  contract  for  the 
foundation  of  the  pumping  station  was  let  during  this  year ; 
but  the  contractor  failed  to  complete  the  work,  owing  to 
flooding,  and  it  was  re-let.  Contracts  for  four  engines  to 
cost  $850,000.00  a  pair  were  let  in  1872 ;  they  were  placed  in 

[  236  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

position  in  July,  1878,  before  the  station  was  completed,  the 
contract  for  which  was  let  the  same  year.  The  building  oi 
the  works  was  at  that  time  under  the  supervision  of  engi- 
neer James  Lowrie.  The  inauguration  of  the  new  system 
was  scheduled  for  July  twenty-seventh,  but  an  accident  to 
one  of  the  engines  postponed  it  until  May  of  the  following 
year.  This  pumping  station,  known  as  the  Brilliant  station, 
was  located  on  the  Allegheny  just  below  Highland  Park  on 
property  formerly  owned  by  Benjamin  W.  Morgan,  and  is 
still  in  use,  although  it  was  entirely  remodeled  in  1894.  The 
water  supply  was  taken  from  the  Allegheny  river,  as  it  is 
to-day,  and  raised  367  feet  to  the  Highland  reservoir  which 
is  thirteen  acres  in  extent  and  has  a  capacity  of  138,000,000 
gallons.  At  present  there  are  four  reservoirs,  the  Highland 
Nos.  I.  and  II.,  the  Herron  Hill  and  Bedford,  beside  three 
tanks,  the  two  Garfield  tanks  and  the  Lincoln  tank,  having 
a  total  capacity  of  252,675,000  gallons.  There  are  four 
pumping  stations,  the  Brilliant,  with  ten  pumping  engines, 
with  a  capacity  of  52,000,000  gallons ;  the  Herron  Hill,  with 
three  engines,  capacity  16,000,000;  the  Garfield,  with  two 
engines,  capacity  3,000,000  and  the  Lincoln,  with  one  engine 
and  one  duplex  non-condensing  steam  pump,  capacity 
1,500,000  gallons;  miles  of  pipe  line  in  service,  379.63;  fire 
hydrants,  3,550.  In  addition,  a  filtration  plant  is  being  con- 
structed at  a  cost  of  $6,500,000.00,  to  filter  the  entire  water 
supply,  including  that  for  the  South  Side  and  the  Thirty- 
seventh  and  Forty-first  wards  which  are  now  supplied  by 
private  companies.  The  system  to  be  used  is  the  slow-sand 
system,  the  average  daily  capacity  of  which  will  be 
100,000,000  gallons.  The  total  investment  in  the  city's 
water  system  reaches  the  enormous  total  of  $10,326,000.00 ; 
somewhat  in  contrast  to  the  cost  of  the  first  water  supply 
of  Pittsburgh  ordered  by  the  Borough  Council  in  August, 
1802,  at  a  cost  of  $497.96.  It  consisted  of  four  wells  and 
pumps,  and  even  the  small  amount  necessary  to  install  them 
was  difficult  to  raise,  according  to  the  record,  only  $170.00 
having  been  collected  by  the  end  of  the  year. 

In  1876  another  bridge,  the  famous  Point  Bridge,  was 
opened  to  accommodate  the  increasing  population  of  the 
South  Side.    On  the  seventh  of  May,  1882  the  court  house 

[  237  ] 


THE  HISTOEY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

was  burned  and  the  beautiful  structure,  the  masterpiece  of 
the  architect  Richardson,  was  beg-un  in  1884  by  Norcross 
Brothers.  The  contract  was  signed  September  tenth  for  the 
construction  of  the  building,  which  was  to  cost  the  county 
$2,243,024.00.  Work  was  begun  and  the  building  was  turned 
over  to  the  county  commissioners,  complete,  in  April,  1888. 
The  jail  was  finished  in  May,  1886,  but  was  not  used  until 
September.  The  total  excess  for  alterations,  over  the  con- 
tract price  for  these  buildings,  was  but  $14,000.00.  The  con- 
tract for  the  furnishing  and  equipment  of  the  building  was 
also  awarded  to  Norcross  Brothers  for  $103,760.00.  The 
material  used  in  the  construction  was  Worcester  granite. 
After  the  burning  of  the  second  court  house, the  old  Western 
University  building  was  purchased  for  $80,000.00.  It  was 
fitted  up  at  an  expense  of  $22,000.00.  In  addition,  a  tem- 
porary brick  building  was  erected  on  George's  alley  and 
Old  avenue  at  a  cost  of  $43,000.00.  These  served  the  pur- 
poses of  the  county  until  the  completion  of  the  present 
building. 

The  year  1888,  being  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of 
the  erection  of  Allegheny  county,  it  was  decided  to  hold  a 
Centennial  to  commemorate  the  event  and  to  show  the 
progress  that  had  been  made  in  manufacturing,  transporta- 
tion, and  commerce.  A  Centennial  committee  of  one 
hundred  persons  was  formed  and  a  programme  was  drawn 
up  which  included  the  dedication  of  the  Court  House 
September  twenty-fourth;  a  civic  display  and  grand  parade 
on  the  twenty-fifth,  and  a  military  display  on  the  twenty- 
sixth.  The  parade  on  the  twenty-fifth  was  a  great  success, 
requiring  three  hours  for  the  numerous  bodies  to  pass.  It 
was  made  up  of  the  various  artisans  and  skilled  mechanics, 
displays  of  domestic  materials  and  handiwork,  horses  and 
mules,  ladened  with  packs  of  merchandise,  to  illustrate  the 
earliest  days  of  transportation,  Conestoga  wagons  of  the 
period  of  1820  and  a  model  of  a  canal  boat  of  1829,  to  show 
the  contrast  with  present  day  modes  of  transportation.  The 
military  display  on  the  following  day  was  also  a  success. 
Thus  Allegheny  county  began  her  second  one  hundred  years. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  decade  the  population  of  the  city 
was  156,389 ;  in  1890  it  had  increased  to  238,617. 

[  238  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

Many  other  noteworthy  buildings,  including  libraries, 
schools,  churches,  a  new  Government  building,  railroad  sta- 
tions, hotels,  office  buildings  and  business  blocks,  have  been 
constructed  in  the  past  twenty-five  years.  The  largest  of 
these  is  the  extended  Carnegielnstitute  building  in  Schenley 
Park.  It  covers  a  ground  space  of  five  acres  and  its  dimen- 
sions are  four  hundred  by  five  hundred  feet.  Within  the 
building  are  a  library,  museum  and  art  gallery,  and  a  music 
hall.  The  exterior  is  built  of  Ohio  sandstone,  and  there  is 
much  beautiful  white  and  green  Greek  marble  used  for  in- 
terior walls,  stairs  and  columns,  together  with  many  varie- 
ties of  French  and  Italian  marbles.  The  Hall  of  Sculpture 
is  of  special  interest  for  the  beauty  of  the  white  pentelic 
marble  used  in  its  construction.  This  marble  came  from  the 
same  quarry  that  produced  the  marble  for  the  Parthenon 
and  other  Greek  Temples.  Other  buildings  worthy  of  men- 
tion are  the  Government  building,  built  of  polished  granite, 
completed  in  1892  at  a  cost  of  $1,500,000.00;  the  Union  and 
Wabash  stations,  the  latter  of  which  is  one  of  the  most  im- 
posing structures  of  the  city.  It  is  triangular  in  shape  and 
with  the  train  shed  covers  150,000  square  feet.  The  first  two 
stories  are  constructed  of  gray  stone  embellished  with 
mouldings,  carvings  and  columns.  The  remaining  stories 
are  of  Pompeiian  brick.  The  ornamentation  represents 
some  of  the  finest  carving  in  stone  to  be  found  in  Pittsburgh. 
The  cost  was  $1,000,000.00. 

Of  office  buildings  there  are  several  which  are  in  the  class 
of  skyscrapers.  These  are  the  Frick,  the  Farmers'  Bank, 
the  Machesney,  the  Carnegie,  the  Arrott,  the  People's  Bank 
and  others.  The  most  costly  of  all  these  is  the  Frick  Build- 
ing, which  is  twenty-one  stories  above  the  sidewalk  on  Grant 
street  and  three  stories  below  the  same  level.  It  measures 
two  hundred  and  seventeen  by  one  hundred  feet.  The 
height  from  the  basement  level  to  the  roof  is  360  feet;  the 
total  floor  space,  exclusive  of  the  sub-basement,  357,475 
square  feet;  the  architecture  is  of  the  Greek  order;  the 
entrance  ways,  floors  and  walls  are  of  Italian  marble  of 
which  220,000  square  feet  were  used ;  the  ceiling  is  paneled 
with  Pavonazzo  marble.  The  main  interior  doors  on  the 
ground  floor  are  of  bronze.     Opposite  the  Grant  street 

[  239  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

entrance  is  a  window  by  LaFarge  representing  Fortune  on 
her  Wheel.  The  hallways  above  the  first  story  are  lined 
with  Carrara  marble  and  San  Domingo  mahogany.  The 
building  is  equipped  with  ten  elevators  and  other  con- 
veniences, such  as  barber  shops,  a  haberdashery  and  a 
women's  parlor.  The  interesting  feature  of  the  basement 
floor  is  the  great  armor  plate  steel  vault  of  the  Union  Safe 
Deposit  Company.  This  vault  is  the  largest  of  its  kind  in 
the  world;  its  two  massive  doors  weighing  17  tons  each. 

In  facilities  for  local  traffic  by  electric  railways,  Pitts- 
burgh has  reached  the  limit,  in  so  far  as  surface  lines  are 
concerned.  Owing  to  the  physical  limitations,  there  is  but 
little  room  to  provide  for  the  increasing  traffic.  Routes  must 
be  established,  either  above  or  below  the  surface,  and  the 
day  is  not  far  distant  when  actual  operations  must  begin  on 
them.  The  surface  railways,  all  of  which  are  controlled  by 
the  Pittsburgh  Railways  Company,  reach  out  in  all  direc- 
tions to  the  suburbs  and  adjoining  towns  and  cities,  such  as 
Coraopolis,  Homestead,  Braddock,  McKeesport,  East  Pitts- 
burgh, Wilmerding,  Wilkinsburg,  Oakmont,  Verona,  Belle- 
vue,  Avalon  and  Etna,  the  longest  suburban  line  operated 
being  the  line  to  Allenport,  a  distance  of  42  miles  up  the 
Monongahela  river.  The  total  length  of  the  track  operated 
by  the  company  is  about  492  miles.  About  723  of  the  com- 
pany's 1670  cars  are  used  daily.  The  number  of  passengers 
carried  during  the  year  1905  was  191,084,335.  Lines  are 
being  operated  from  Butler  to  connect  with  the  Pittsburgh 
Railways  Company's  line  at  Etna ;  another  is  to  be  extended 
from  Butler  to  Evans  City  and  from  New  Castle  to  Evans 
City,  thence  to  connect  with  the  lines  of  the  Pittsburgh  Rail- 
ways Company  in  Allegheny.  Still  another  line  is  to  be 
constructed  from  Cannonsburg  to  Castle  Shannon  which 
will  connect  the  line  from  Washington,  Pa.,  to  Cannonsburg 
with  the  line  of  the  Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  at  Castle 
Shannon.  In  addition  to  these  are  the  incline  plane  rail- 
ways of  which  there  are  in  operation ;  the  Knoxville,  2,000 
feet  in  length,  connecting  South  Eleventh  street  with  Wash- 
ington avenue,  Allentown ;  the  Castle  Shannon,  length  2,112 
feet,  connecting  West  Carson  street  with  Bailey  avenue; 
the  Monongahela,  length  640  feet,  connecting  West  Carson 

[240  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

street  with  Grandview  avenue;  the  Mt.  Oliver,  connecting 
South  Twelfth  street  with  Mt.  Oliver;  the  St.  Clair,  1,320 
feet,  connecting  South  Twenty-second  street  and  Arlington 
Heights ;  the  Duquesne,  connecting  West  Carson  street  with 
Duquesne  Heights;  and  the  Penn,  connecting  Penn  avenue 
at  Seventeenth  street  with  Ridge  street. 

At  present,  within  the  corporate  limits,  the  following 
bridges  span  the  rivers :  The  Union,  Sixth  street.  Seventh 
street.  Ninth  street.  Fort  Wayne  Railroad,  Sixteenth  street. 
Thirtieth  street,  Pittsburgh  Junction  Railroad,  Forty-third 
street,  Sharpsburg,  Highland  Park,  Brilliant  Cut  Off  over 
the  Allegheny;  the  Pittsburgh  &  Lake  Erie  Railroad  over 
the  Ohio ;  the  Point,  Wabash,  Smithfield  street.  South  Tenth 
street.  South  Twenty-second  street,  Glenwood,  Brown  and 
the  Jones  &  Laughlin  over  the  Monongahela. 

Among  the  notable  events  of  the  years  succeeding  1870, 
may  be  mentioned  the  extensive  addition  to  the  city  on  the 
second  of  March,  1872,  of  the  district  south  of  the  Monon- 
gahela as  the  result  of  an  Act  of  May  tenth,  1871.  This 
territory  comprised  27.7  square  miles  with  a  population 
approximating  165,000.  It  was  soon  found  that  the  ma- 
chinery of  government  did  not  fit  the  enlarged  municipality. 
It  was  inadequate  and  unwieldy.  An  effort  was  made  to 
improve  it  by  the  passage  of  a  bill  in  the  Legislature  of 
1873-74,  but  the  new  constitution  of  the  State  forbidding 
special  legislation  having  gone  into  effect  before  the  Gov- 
ernor's signature  was  attached  to  the  bill,  it  became  in- 
operative. Another  attempt  was  made  in  1874,  when  an  Act 
entitled  the  Wallace  Act,  which  divided  the  cities  of  the 
State  into  three  classes,  was  passed.  In  accordance  with  its 
terms,  the  Governor  appointed  commissioners  to  draft 
charters  for  the  three  classes  of  cities,  which  was  done. 
The  Legislature,  however,  did  not  approve  of  the  work  of 
the  commissioners,  and  Pittsburgh  was  left  without  sufficient 
governmental  machinery  until  the  Act  of  1887.  Repeated 
efforts  at  the  consolidation  of  the  two  cities,  Pittsburgh 
and  Allegheny,  and  the  adjacent  sections,  have  been  made 
since  1854.  Previous  to  this  the  question  was  discussed 
from  time  to  time  in  the  public  prints.  Among  the  earliest 
mentions  was  one  in  the  Commercial  Journal  of  April  sixth, 
i6  [  241  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

1846 ;  later  the  Dispatch  took  up  the  question.  The  bill  of 
the  session  of  1853-54  met  with  such  strenuous  opposition 
from  Allegheny  and  the  boroughs  that  it  failed  of  passage. 
The  Philadelphia  North  American,  in  December,  1853, 
stated  that  the  accomplishment  of  consolidation  required 
"  more  exertion  than  our  Pittsburgh  friends  seem  to  be 
inclined  to  make, ' '  and  it  was  noted  that  Pittsburgh  suffered 
then,  as  now,  by  reason  of  not  being  credited  with  its  actual 
size,  population,  wealth,  resources,  enterprises,  etc.,  and 
that  the  Pittsburghers  ' '  have  neglected  to  take  those  steps 
which  can  alone  secure  for  their  city  the  importance  which 
is  its  due  *  *  *."  After  this  first  practical  effort  to 
consolidate,  the  desire  became  more  wide-spread  yearly. 
Numerous  bills  have  been  introduced,  but  for  one  reason  or 
another,  principally  political,  the  two  cities  have  remained 
under  separate  governments.  By  an  Act  of  Assembly, 
March  seventh,  1901,  entitled  ' '  an  Act  for  the  Government 
of  Cities  of  the  Second  Class,"  the  office  of  mayor  was 
abolished  and  executive  powers  were  vested  in  a  recorder, 
who  was  given  all  the  powers  of  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  a 
term  of  three  years,  after  which  he  was  not  eligible  for  re- 
election for  any  city  office  for  two  years  to  come.  The  Act 
also  divided  the  duties  and  rights  of  the  presidents  of  Select 
and  Common  Councils  and  established  rules  and  restrictions 
for  the  governance  of  the  various  departments  of  the  city 
government.  Next  came  the  Act  of  April  twenty-third, 
1903,  changing  the  title  of  the  chief  executive  officer  of 
cities  of  the  second-class  from  recorder  to  mayor;  then 
came  the  Act  of  1905,  which  was  declared  unconstitutional ; 
and  finally,  the  Act  of  February  seventh,  1906,  known  as 
' '  The  Greater  Pittsburgh  Act. ' '  This  Act,  like  the  others 
since  the  Constitution  of  1874,  is  general  in  form,  but  is 
really  intended  for  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny.  It  provides 
that  a  petition  by  ordinance  of  Councils  of  either  of  said 
cities  or  of  ''  two  per  centum  of  the  registered  voters  of 
either  of  said  (two  contiguous)  cities  "  may  be  presented 
to  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  praying  that  they  ' '  shall 
be  united  and  become  one  city,"  and  that  upon  the  filing  of 
such  petition  any  person  interested  may  file  exception  to 
said  petition  prior  to  the  day  fixed  for  the  hearing  thereof, 

[  242  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

and  that  the  court  shall  order  an  election  to  be  held  in  said 
cities  to  vote  for  or  against  the  proposed  consolidation,  at 
which  all  legal  voters  of  either  of  said  cities  and  of  the  said 
intervening  land,  if  any,  shall  be  qualified  to  vote.  The 
election  for  consolidation  was  held  June  twelfth,  1906,  and 
June  SLKteenth,  by  order  of  the  court  and,  in  conformity  to 
the  will  of  the  majority  of  the  people,  Pittsburgh  and  Alle- 
gheny were  declared  one  city.  The  legality  of  the  consolida- 
tion is  being  contested,  on  constitutional  grounds,  by  its 
opponents  who  are  animated  chiefly  by  political  motives, 
and  the  case  will  be  decided  by  the  Supreme  Court  the  com- 
ing fall.  The  law  provides  that  the  elected  officers  of  the 
separate  cities  shall  not  be  removed  until  the  end  of  their 
terms ;  that  Councils  be  consolidated  and  that  the  mayor  of 
the  larger  city  shall  be  mayor  of  the  consolidated  city,  and 
the  mayor  of  the  smaller  city  shall  be  deputy-mayor,  for 
the  terms  for  which  they  were  elected,  the  deputy-mayor  to 
succeed  the  mayor  in  case  of  death  or  removal  from  office ; 
the  deputy-mayor  to  sign  ordinances  and  resolutions  relat- 
ing solely  to  the  smaller  city;  veto  power  for  mayor  and 
deputy-mayor;  present  departments  preserved  and  consol- 
idated, heads  of  those  of  larger  city  to  remain  in  control, 
with  heads  of  departments  of  smaller  city  as  assistants; 
employees  of  all  departments  to  be  retained;  councilmanic 
terms  to  be  extended  where  they  do  not  expire  in  the  same 
year  in  either  city,  and,  before  expiration  of  councilmanic 
terms,  wards  to  be  divided  and  consolidated  and  the  appor- 
tionment of  Select  and  Common  Councilmen  made,  and  that 
each  city  ' '  shall  pay  its  own  floating  and  bonded  indebted- 
ness and  liabilities  of  every  kind,  and  the  interest  thereon, 
as  the  same  existed  at  the  time  of  annexation."  The  Hon. 
George  W.  Guthrie,  elected  February  twentieth,  1906,  is  the 
present  Mayor  of  Pittsburgh,  and  the  present  Mayor  of 
Allegheny  is  the  Hon.  Charles  F.  Kirschler. 

If  the  courts  sustain  the  action  of  the  people,  Pittsburgh 
will  rank  sixth  in  population  among  the  cities  of  the  United 
States,  whereas,  it  is  now  the  eleventh.  The  population  of 
Pittsburgh,  according  to  the  census  of  1900,  was  321,616 ;  of 
Allegheny,  129,896.  The  population  of  Pittsburgh  in  1905, 
according  to  an  estimate  made  by  the  Board  of  Health,  was 

[  243  ] 


THE  HISTOEY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

383,000 ;  of  Allegheny,  150,000.  The  total  amount  of  bonded 
indebtedness  of  Pittsburgh,  January  thirty-first,  1906,  was 
$22,700,401.87;  of  Allegheny,  December  thirty-first,  1905, 
$6,103,000.  Thus,  under  consolidation,  Pittsburgh  will  be- 
come a  community  of  533,000,  with  a  bonded  debt  of 
$28,803,401.87.  Its  total  area  will  be  increased  to  over  38 
square  miles.  It  will  have  115  ward  schools,  4  high  schools ; 
500  miles  of  water  mains;  5,000  arc  lights;  400  miles  of 
paved  streets;  1,300  acres  of  public  parks;  450  miles  of 
sewers ;  108  banks,  with  a  capital  of  sixty  millions  of  dollars. 
It  will  move  up  in  the  Clearing  House  reports ;  it  will  move 
up  to  fifth  place  in  national  bank  deposits  and  its  increased 
area  will  give  it  fourth  place  in  property  valuation.  It  has 
been  said  "  Pittsburgh  is  the  apotheosis  of  American  civil- 
ization. To-day  it  stands  at  the  threshold  of  a  future  so 
great  as  to  silence  the  prophets,  who  see  only  an  ever- 
widening  horizon,  and  are  unable  to  grasp  the  vision  of 
what  lies  beyond." 

The  story  of  Pittsburgh's  progress  in  the  world  of  in- 
dustry and  commerce  for  the  past  twenty-five  years  is  too 
well  known  to  recount  in  detail  here.  Lincoln  called  Alle- 
gheny county  the  ''  State  of  Allegheny  "  in  the  early  six- 
ties. To-day  the  State  of  Allegheny  is  lost  sight  of  in  the 
comprehension  of  that  more  significent  term,  the  Pittsburgh 
District,  which  comprises  the  territory  within  a  radius  of 
from  forty  to  fifty  miles  of  the  city  proper.  It  is,  in  truth, 
Greater  Pittsburgh  in  spite  of  the  numerous  failures  to 
include  the  cities  of  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny  under  one 
municipal  government.  In  reaching  this  eminence  many 
factors  have  conjointly  played  a  part.  Influences  emanat- 
ing from  the  four  quarters  of  the  earth  are  to  be  taken  into 
account  in  the  analysis  of  the  prominence  of  this  district. 
The  laws  of  nations,  the  advancement  in  science  and  the  in- 
born spirit  of  man  to  achieve,  have  all  had  some  effect  here 
until  Pittsburgh  stands  to-day  as  the  foremost  industrial 
center,  originating  in  her  manufactories  and  mines  more 
tons  of  freight  than  any  other  city  in  the  world.  Her 
progress  remains  unchecked  and  no  man  dares  to  set  a  limit 
to  her  future. 

Among  the  agencies  that  have  affected  this  marvelous 

[  244  ] 


:\\ 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

development  may  be  mentioned  the  national  tariff  laws  of 
the  last  quarter  of  a  century;  with  one  or  two  exceptions 
they  have  been  favorable.  An  endeavor  has  been  made,  in 
the  preceding  pages,  to  give  the  reader  an  intelligible  under- 
standing of  this  influence  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  city  dur- 
ing the  past  century.  The  discovery  of  new  methods  in 
manufacture,  the  development  of  transportation  facilities 
and  the  widening  of  the  world's  markets  have  been  other 
important  factors;  but  when  these  various  items  are  con- 
sidered, there  remains  the  primal  factor  —  the  essence  of 
her  present  greatness  —  the  advantage  of  location. 

In  the  history  of  nations  since  the  invention  of  the 
steam  engine,  we  find  that  the  most  prosperous  are  those 
in  which  abundant  stores  of  iron  and  coal  are  found  in  close 
proximity.  Of  these  two  physical  forces,  in  the  upbuilding 
of  industry,  coal  has  been  demonstrated  to  be  the  most 
valuable,  and,  in  so  far  as  this  locality  is  concerned,  natural 
gas  may  be  added  as  a  powerful  auxiliary  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years.  These  are  the  levers  which  supply  the 
power  for  the  conversion  of  not  only  iron,  but  practically 
all  the  raw  materials  of  nature  into  finished  products.  In 
the  consideration  of  location  as  a  factor  in  the  achievement 
of  the  industrial  and  commercial  prestige  which  Pittsburgh 
holds  to-day,  must  be  reckoned  first,  her  industrial  setting  in 
the  midst  of  nature's  most  bountiful  supply  of  coal,  and 
second,  her  setting  at  the  confluence  of  two  great  rivers,  at 
the  head  of  navigable  waters  that  either  touch  or  penetrate 
over  one-third  of  the  States  of  the  Union  with  a  territory  of 
over  a  million  square  miles.  These  two  advantages  are  the 
ones  that  have  primarily  ensured  the  steady,  healthy  growth 
of  industry  and  commerce,  which  have  evolved  the  present 
Pittsburgh  by  affording  manufacturing,  importation  and 
exportation  at  the  lowest  cost,  at  the  same  time  stimulating 
the  inauguration  and  competition  of  land  routes  of  trans- 
portation until  to-day,  notwithstanding  the  difficulties  met 
with,  political  and  others,  in  the  establishing  of  some  of  the 
routes,  the  transportation  facilities  of  Pittsburgh  are  sec- 
ond to  no  other  manufacturing  center  in  the  world. 

The  three  counties,  Allegheny,  Westmoreland,  and 
Fayette,  of  which  Pittsburgh  is  the  center,  contain  the 

[  245  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

richest  deposits  of  coal  to  be  found  anywhere  in  the  United 
States.  It  is  admirably  suited  to  all  the  purposes  known 
for  the  use  of  coal;  that  of  the  Connellsville  region  being 
especially  adapted  to  the  manufacture  of  coke,  having  a 
small  percentage  of  sulphur  and  a  large  percentage  of 
carbon.  It  has  been  calculated  that  there  are  8,000,000 
tons  to  every  square  mile  of  the  2,500  in  the  Pittsburgh 
region  alone.  The  first  use  of  coal  dates  back  to  the  days 
of  Fort  Pitt,  and  vague  records  or  traditions  state  that  the 
French  used  it  in  the  days  of  Fort  Duquesne.  In  1784  the 
Penns  issued  grants  to  mine  coal  from  the  southside  hills. 
O'Hara  and  Craig  were  the  first  to  use  it  for  manufacturing 
purposes  in  their  glass  house  in  1797.  From  the  days  of 
the  first  shipments  of  coal  down  the  Ohio  in  1814  by  Thomas 
Jones,  who  brought  his  coal  to  the  river  bank  on  sleds  in 
the  winter  and  floated  it  down  the  river  in  the  summer,  the 
coal  trade  of  Pittsburgh  has  steadily  increased.  It  was 
accelerated  in  1845  as  a  result  of  the  successful  venture  of 
Daniel  Bushnell  in  towing  three  small  barges  with  a  cargo 
of  6,000  bushels  to  Cincinnati  by  steam.  With  the  advent 
of  railroads,  and  the  increase  in  manufacturing,  came  the 
wider  development  of  the  coal  fields  each  year.  The  out- 
put for  1903  reached  the  enormous  total  of  36,000,000  tons 
for  the  Pittsburgh  District.  This  was  about  one-eighth  of 
the  total  production  of  the  United  States  for  that  year. 

The  production  of  coke  in  commercial  quantities  dates 
from  1841,  when  three  men,  William  Turner,  Jr.,  Provance 
McCormick,  and  John  Campbell,  erected  two  ovens  a 
few  miles  below  Connellsville  on  the  farm  of  James 
Taylor.  By  the  Spring  of  1842,  1,600  bushels  had  been 
manufactured  and  were  shipped  down  the  rivers  and  sold 
in  Cincinnati.  Its  use  in  the  manufacture  of  iron  has. super- 
ceded charcoal  to  a  greater  and  greater  extent  each  year, 
until  the  output  in  1903  amounted  to  14,138,748  tons.  This 
was  nearly  3,000,000  tons  over  the  production  for  the 
balance  of  the  United  States  in  that  year. 

The  largest  producer  of  coke  in  this  region,  and  in  the 
world,  is  the  H.  C.  Frick  Company,  which  owns  nearly 
40,000  acres  of  coal  and  12,000  coke  ovens,  with  a  daily 
capacity  of  25,000  tons.      In  addition  to  organizing  and 

[  246  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

developing  this  industry  to  its  present  proportions,  Mr. 
Frick  is  one  of  the  most  aggressive  business  men  of  Pitts- 
burgh. His  activity  in  industrial  circles  during  the  past 
twenty-five  years  is  a  matter  of  history.  He  became  con- 
nected with  the  Carnegie  interests  in  1889  when  he  was 
chosen  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  which  place  he 
filled  for  many  years  through  the  successive  changes  in  the 
corporation.  During  the  Homestead  strike  in  July,  1902, 
he  came  prominently  before  the  public  through  his  master- 
ful management  of  the  difficulties  arising  at  that  time.  It 
is  said  that  because  of  his  part  in  this  strike  he  was  marked 
by  the  Anarchists  and  shot  and  stabbed  shortly  afterward 
by  the  notorious  Berkman,  who  was  recently  released  from 
the  Western  Penitentiary  after  serving  sentence  for  the 
commission  of  the  crime.  Mr.  Frick  is  one  of  the  largest 
realty  holders  of  the  city,  and  has  drawn  attention  to  Pitts- 
burgh by  the  erection  of  the  mammoth  Frick  Building,  said 
to  be  the  finest  office  building  in  the  world. 

To  the  above  carboniferous  fuels,  native  of  the  Pitts- 
burgh District,  must  be  added  two  others  closely  related, 
natural  gas  and  petroleum,  the  history  of  which  begins  at 
a  somewhat  later  date.  The  application  to  manufacturing 
purposes  of  the  first  of  these  latter  power  and  heat  pro- 
ducing agencies  began  in  1875,  when  Graff,  Bennett  & 
Co.,  and  others,  organized  the  Natural  Gas  Company, 
Limited,  and  piped  gas  from  wells  in  Butler  county  seven- 
teen miles  to  their  mills  at  Etna.  In  May,  1884,  George 
Westinghouse  organized  the  Philadelphia  Company  for  the 
purpose  of  supplying  fuel  and  illumination  to  manufac- 
tories, commercial  establishments,  and  residences  of  Pitts- 
burgh. From  the  start  this  company  has  been  prosperous 
and  may  be  numbered  among  the  giant  corporations  of  the 
city,  having  absorbed  all  other  companies  in  the  field.  Its 
Twenty-second  Annual  Report  for  the  year  ending  March 
thirty-first,  1906,  shows  a  net  income  of  $3,380,446.96.  For 
the  year  1903,  before  the  consolidation,  the  combined  capital 
of  the  Pittsburgh  Natural  Gas  Companies  was  $60,000,- 
000.00;  miles  of  pipe  line,  4,000;  number  of  wells,  2,000; 
acres  of  land  under  lease,  500,000;  daily  consumption 
(cubic   feet),    350,000,000;    mills    and   factories    supplied, 

[  247  ] 


THE  HISTOEY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

1,000 ;  families  supplied,  130,000,  and  wells  drilled  annually, 
500. 

The  success  of  the  Drake  well,  the  first  oil  well  in  the 
fields  of  Western  Pennsylvania,  August  twenty-eighth, 
1859,  marks  the  beginning  of  this  industry  which  has 
reached  such  mammoth  proportions.  In  its  development 
the  Pittsburgh  District  has  been  the  leader.  From  the  less 
than  20,000,000  gallons  produced  in  1860,  30,000,000  barrels 
were  produced  in  1903.  In  the  early  days  of  petroleum  the 
city  of  Pittsburgh  numbered  among  her  industries  scores  of 
refineries. 

Pittsburgh's  iron  and  steel  industries  have  increased  in 
such  ratio  during  the  past  twenty-five  years  that  any 
attempt  to  treat  this  division  of  her  interests  in  detail 
would  be  disproportionate  in  a  volume  of  this  character. 
Facts  concerning  the  early  history  of  the  iron  industry  have 
been  given  in  preceding  pages.  Notwithstanding  this  re- 
markable growth  through  the  Civil  War  period,  it  was 
not  until  the  introduction  of  the  Bessemer  process  of  steel 
making  in  1874  that  the  boom,  if  it  may  be  so  called,  which 
has  lasted  to  the  present  time,  began.  Pittsburgh  had  drawn 
her  supply  of  pig  iron  from  the  surrounding  counties  up  to 
the  year  1859,  no  successful  attempt  to  establish  a  furnace 
here  having  been  made  since  the  failure  of  George  An- 
shuntz  in  1794.  In  1859  the  Clinton  furnace  was  built  on 
the  South  Side  by  Graff,  Bennett  &  Co.  Others  soon 
followed. 

Among  the  early  iron  and  steel  manufacturies,  not  men- 
tioned elsewhere  in  this  volume,  were  G.  and  J.  H.  Schoen- 
berger,  1841;  Jones  (Isaac)  and  Quigg,  1845;  Singer, 
Nimick  &  Co.,  1848 ;  Hussey,  Howe  &  Co.,  1859  (the  pioneer 
manufacturers  of  crucible  steel  in  America,  1860,  by  a 
process  known  as  the  ''  direct  "  process,  invented  by  Mr. 
Hussey  of  the  firm) ;  Jones,  Lauth  &  Co.,  1852 ;  Porter, 
Rolfe  &  Swett,  1857,  and  Moorhead  &  Co.,  1859. 

The  firm  of  Jones,  Lauth  &  Co.  deserves  special  mention, 
for  it  was  the  beginning  of  the  Jones  &  Laughlin  Steel  Co. 
of  to-day,  the  largest  independent  steel  company  of  the 
world.  It  stands  as  a  monument  to  B.  F.  Jones,  the  partner 
of  Lauth,  and  to  James  Laughlin,  who  was  admitted  to 

[  248  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

partnership  in  1854,  and  as  the  junior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Jones  &  Laughlin  upon  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Lauth 
when  the  firm  was  reorganized  in  1857.  In  1883  there  was 
another  reorganization  when  the  style  of  the  firm  became 
Jones  &  Laughlin,  Limited,  and  in  August,  1902,  the  pres- 
ent corporation  was  chartered  under  Pennsylvania  laws 
with  a  capital  of  $30,000,000.00.  The  Jones  &  Laughlin 
American  Iron  &  Steel  Works  were  the  first  to  use  the  Lake 
Superior  ores,  and  they  erected  the  Eliza  furnace,  the  third 
in  Allegheny  county,  in  1860.  Since  then  several  others 
have  been  built.  The  company  now  owns  extensive  ore 
properties  in  the  Lake  Superior  region  and  many  thousand 
acres  of  coal  lands,  and  coke  for  the  furnaces  is  made  in 
the  mill  yards.  It  also  owns  a  great  section  of  limestone 
deposit  at  Holidaysburg.  Their  steel  works  are  known  the 
world  over  for  the  production  of  the  famous  Jones  & 
Laughlin  cold-rolled  shafting,  as  well  as  all  other  forms 
of  rolled  material.  The  total  annual  capacity  of  its  plants 
approximate  1,000,000  tons  of  billets  and  blooms  and 
1,000,000  tons  of  finished  rolled  material. 

To  recount  in  detail  the  history  of  the  various  industrial 
enterprises  of  Andrew  Carnegie  from  the  commencement 
of  the  Cyclops  Iron  Co.,  October  fourteenth,  1864,  to  the 
Carnegie  Steel  Co.,  Limited,  in  1892,  and  its  subsequent 
merger  into  the  United  States  Steel  Corporation  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1901,  would  require  too  much  space  here;  but  the 
story  is  interesting,  and  throughout  its  length  are  to  be 
found  records  of  those  dominant  traits  of  the  founder  of 
this  colossal  establishment  that  distinguish  him  as  the  King 
of  the  Captains  of  Industry.  The  numerous  concerns 
which  he  organized,  or  in  which  he  became  interested,  and 
the  apparent  recklessness  with  which  he  plunged  into  un- 
known fields,  installed  new  processes  of  manufacture,  and 
his  extraordinary  faculty  of  surrounding  himself  with 
talent  of  the  highest  order,  all  attest  to  the  justness  of 
according  him  this  place  in  industrial  history. 

Following  the  establishment  of  the  Cyclops  Iron  Co. 
came  the  organization  of  the  Keystone  Bridge  Co.  in  1865. 
For  this  company  the  Cyclops  Iron  Co.  furnished  iron  for 
bridges ;  then  followed  the  Union  Iron  Mills,  1865 ;  Carnegie, 

[  249  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Kloman  &  Co.,  1870;  Carnegie  &  Co.,  1871;  The  Keystone 
Bridge  Co.,  Incorporated,  1872;  Carnegie,  McCandless  & 
Co.,  1873;  the  Edgar  Thomson  Steel  Co.,  1874;  the  Lucy 
Furnace  Co.,  1877;  the  Pittsburgh  Bessemer  Steel  Co., 
Limited,  1879;  Carnegie  Brothers  &  Co.,  Limited,  1881; 
Lucy  Furnace  Co.,  Limited,  1881;  Wilson,  Walker  &  Co., 
Limited,  1882 ;  Hartman  Steel  Co.,  Limited,  1883 ;  Carnegie, 
Phipps  &  Co.,  Limited,  1886;  Duquesne  Steel  Co.,  1886;  the 
Allegheny  Bessemer  Steel  Co.,  1888;  Carnegie,  Phipps  & 
Co.,  Limited,  1891,  and  the  Carnegie  Steel  Co.,  1892. 

Ten  years  after  its  introduction  into  the  United  States, 
the  Bessemer  process  of  steel  making  was  introduced  into 
the  Pittsburgh  District  through  the  erection  of  the  Edgar 
Thomson  Steel  plant  at  Braddock  in  1874.  This  company 
was  capitalized  at  $1,000,000.00;  a  plant  consisting  of  a 
Bessemer  converter  and  rail  mill  was  built;  and  favorable 
tariff  legislation  succored  it  through  its  earliest  years. 
New  furnaces  have  been  added  to  the  plant  from  time  to 
time,  until  now  there  are  eleven,  and  it  ranks  as  the  model 
of  the  Carnegie  Steel  Works.  The  works  of  the  Pittsburgh 
Bessemer  Steel  Co.,  the  famous  Homestead  Steel  Works, 
built  in  1880-81,  come  next  in  importance.  Their  rapid 
growth  was  the  marvel  of  the  steel  producing  world  for 
many  years.  They  are  noted  for  their  immense  production 
of  open-hearth  steel.  In  1902  they  produced  34  per  cent  of 
the  open-hearth  output  of  the  United  States.  Among  other 
properties  of  this  company  are  the  Duquesne  Steel  Works, 
a  few  miles  above  Homestead,  and  the  Upper  &  Lower 
Union  Mills  in  Pittsburgh  proper.  There  were  enumerated 
in  1903  as  belonging  to  the  Carnegie  Steel  Co.,  19  blast 
fumaces  (2  building),  3  steel  works  with  8  Bessemer  con- 
verters; 56  open-hearth  fumaces  (12  building),  5  rolling 
plants  with  34  mills,  an  armor  plate  works,  and  a  forge  for 
the  manufacture  of  locomotive  and  car  axles.  The  total 
capacity  of  these  is  calculated  at  3,430,000  tons  of  steel,  or 
about  one-third  of  the  entire  production  of  the  United 
States. 

In  the  Pittsburgh  District  for  the  year  1903,  there  were 
produced  4,211,569  tons  of  pig  iron,  5,261,380  tons  of  iron 
and  steel,  and  712,300  tons  of  steel  rails.    There  were  43 

[  250  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

blast  furnaces,  with  an  annual  capacity  of  7,056,000  tons; 
15  Bessemer  converters,  with  an  annual  capacity  of  3,920,- 
000  tons;  116  open-hearth  furnaces,  with  an  annual  capacity 
of  3,472,000  tons,  and  1  Talbot  open-hearth  furnace,  with  an 
annual  capacity  of  67,200  tons. 

For  more  than  one  hundred  years  Pittsburgh  has  been 
the  center  of  the  glass  industry  of  the  United  States.  The 
stories  of  the  beginning  of  the  manufacture  of  glass  in  Pitts- 
burgh by  O'Hara  and  Craig,  in  1797,  and  that  of  the  first 
successful  flint  glass  works  in  the  United  States  by  Bake- 
well  and  Ensell,  and  B.  Bakewell  &  Co.,  in  1808-9,  have  been 
told  in  the  preceding  pages.  The  growth  of  this  industry 
here  has  kept  pace  with  that  of  the  other  giants.  The 
superiority  of  natural  gas  as  a  fuel  and  the  reliableness  of 
the  Pittsburgh  fields  have  been  the  most  important  factors 
in  its  development.  Glass  in  all  conceivable  varieties  and 
shapes  is  produced.  During  1902  the  window  glass  pro- 
duction amounted  to  $5,279,000.00,  nearly  one-half  of  that 
for  the  entire  United  States;  plate  glass  to  the  amount 
of  $3,954,728.00  was  made ;  this  was  three-fifths  of  the  total 
production  of  the  United  States.  Pressed  glass,  table  ware, 
bottles  and  other  hollow-ware  were  manufactured  to  the 
amount  of  $2,542,500.00,  about  one-fourth  of  the  total  pro- 
duction of  the  United  States ;  and  lamp  glass  to  the  amount 
of  $2,500,000.00,  making  a  total  value  of  glass  production 
amounting  to  $14,276,228.00,  nearly  one-half  of  the  entire 
output  of  the  United  States. 

As  a  benefactor  of  the  human  race,  a  man  of  rare  in- 
ventive genius  and  executive  ability,  ceaseless  energy  and 
devotion  to  the  numerous  interests  he  has  built  up  to  such 
enormous  proportions,  George  Westinghouse  stands  high 
among  the  men  who  have  achieved  fame  by  reason  of  the 
benefits  they  have  bestowed  on  mankind.  His  invention  and 
perfection  of  the  air  brake,  and  the  establishment  of  the 
great  plants  at  Wilmerding  for  their  manufacture,  together 
with  the  building  up  of  the  giant  electrical  and  manufactur- 
ing works  at  East  Pittsburgh,  and  the  establishment  of  the 
works  at  Swissvale  for  the  manufacture  of  railway  safety 
appliances,  entitles  him  to  this  distinction.  This  man,  of 
German  descent,  was  born  in  the  little  town  of  Central 

[  251  ]      ' 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

Bridge,  N.  Y.,  October  sixth,  1846.  His  ancestry  was  Dutch- 
English,  his  father,  a  manufacturer;  his  early  education 
limited  to  the  sophomore  year  of  Union  College.  But  hia 
active  brain  reached  beyond  the  confines  of  college  walls  to, 
what  to  him  was  a  more  vital  reality,  the  industrial  world. 
In  1868  he  invented  the  air  brake.  History  repeating  itself 
compelled  Mr.  Westinghouse  to  many  persistent  efforts  to 
interest  capital  in  his  invention.  Having  failed  in  the  east, 
he  came  to  the  industrial  metropolis  of  the  west,  and  all  the 
world  knows  the  story  of  his  achievements. 

The  foundation  of  the  great  establishment  at  Wilmerding, 
fourteen  miles  east  of  Pittsburgh,  was  laid  in  a  rude  in- 
significant shop  at  the  corner  of  Twenty-fifth  street,  Pitts- 
burgh. The  patent  for  the  air  brake  was  issued  to  Mr. 
Westinghouse  April  thirteenth,  1869,  and  the  Westinghouse 
Air  Brake  Co.,  and  the  manufacture  of  air  brakes  was  be- 
gun the  same  year.  In  1890  the  Wilmerding  plant  was 
occupied ;  numerous  additions  have  been  made  from  time  to 
time  until  to-day  the  employees  number  over  3,000.  The 
Westinghouse  Machine  Co.,  organized  in  1881  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  Westinghouse  High  Speed  Steam  Engines,  also 
began  in  the  little  shop  on  Twenty-fifth  street.  To-day  it 
occupies  an  extensive  area  at  East  Pittsburgh  where  en- 
gines of  all  kinds  are  made,  including  great  Corliss  engines, 
some  of  which  range  up  to  6,500  I.  H.  P.  gas  engines,  and 
the  Westinghouse-Parsons  steam  turbines.  This  factory 
employs  about  the  same  number  of  men  as  the  Air  Brake 
works.  The  combined  properties  of  this  company  include, 
in  addition  to  the  East  Pittsburgh  works,  the  Stoker  works 
at  Cragin  (South  Chicago),  Illinois,  and  the  foundries  at 
Trafford  City,  three  miles  east  of  the  East  Pittsburgh 
plant.  The  Union  Switch  &  Signal  Co.,  organized  in  1882 
for  the  manufacture  of  the  various  switch  and  signal  de- 
vices invented  by  Mr.  Westinghouse,  began  its  career,  like 
the  first  two  mentioned,  in  Pittsburgh.  The  works  of  this 
company  were  established  at  Swissvale  in  1886,  and  they 
employ  about  1,000  men.  Next  came  the  Westinghouse 
Electric  &  Manufacturing  Co.,  organized  in  1886.  This 
company  was  the  pioneer  in  the  manufacture  of  apparatus 
for  the  alternating  system  of  electrical  distribution.    The 

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THE    MUNICIPALITY 

obstacles  which  designing  competitors  put  in  the  way  of  the 
introduction  of  the  alternating  system  would  doubtless  have 
overwhelmed  a  less  determined  man ;  but  with  full  belief  in 
the  future  of  this  system,  the  patents  of  which  he  had 
acquired,  he  fought,  and  the  fruit  of  his  victory  belongs  to 
the  world.  Like  Andrew  Carnegie,  he  surrounded  himself 
with  the  best  talent  obtainable.  In  1888  Nikola  Tesla  be- 
came associated  with  him,  and  the  polyphase  system  of 
electrical  transmission  soon  followed.  It  is  not  the  purpose 
here  to  dilate  on  the  advantages  of  this  system  in  long  dis- 
tance electrical  transmission;  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  the 
same  little  shop  that  had  nurtured  the  infant  days  of  the 
other  plants  was  soon  outgrown  by  this  last  and  greatest 
Westinghouse  enterprise  and  it  was  moved,  first,  to  Alle- 
gheny, then  in  1894  to  East  Pittsburgh  where  47  acres  of 
ground  are  occupied  with  an  available  floor  space  of  over 
2,000,000  square  feet,  giving  employment  to  9,000  workers, 
many  of  whom  are  skilled  mechanics  and  trained  engineers. 
From  year  to  year  the  interests  and  output  of  this  company 
have  grown.  Additional  plants  are  located  in  Allegheny, 
Pa.,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  Newark,  N.  J.,  increasing  the 
number  of  employees  to  12,000.  The  R.  D.  Nuttall  Company 
of  Pittsburgh ;  the  Sawyer-Man  Electric  Company  of  New 
York  city,  the  Bryant  Electric  Company  and  the  Perkins 
Electric  Switch  Manufacturing  Co.,  of  Bridgeport,  Conn., 
are  also  directly  controlled  by  the  Westinghouse  Electric 
&  Manufacturing  Co.  Other  companies  numbered  among 
the  Westinghouse  enterprises  are :  Westinghouse,  Church, 
Kerr  &  Co.,  engineers  and  contractors;  the  Pittsburgh 
Meter  Co.,  the  Nemst  Lamp  Co.,  the  Cooper-Hewitt  Elec- 
tric Co.,  the  Westinghouse  Traction  Brake  Co.,  the  Amer- 
ican Brake  Co.,  the  Canadian  Westinghouse  Company, 
Limited ;  the  British  Westinghouse  Electric  &  Manufactur- 
ing Co. ;  the  Westinghouse  Brake  Co.,  Limited,  of  London, 
Paris  and  Hanover;  Societe  Anonyme  Westinghouse  of 
France;  Westinghouse  Electricitats-Actiengesellschaft  of 
Berlin,  Germany;  and  Westinghouse  Company,  Limited,  of 
Russia.  The  total  capitalization  of  the  various  Westing- 
house interests  represents,  approximatelv,  the  sum  of 
$100,000,000.00;   the   annual   output,   $75,000,000.00.     The 

[  253  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

various  Pittsburgh  plants  cover  an  area  of  several  hundred 
acres  and  employ  20,000  people.  The  Westinghouse  work- 
shops represent  the  most  modern  developments  in  construc- 
tion and  the  latest  improvements  in  equipment,  operating 
facilities  and  organization. 

From  these  small  beginnings  in  the  manufacture  of  elec- 
trical and  railway  safety  appliances  in  1869,  the  value  of 
electrical  and  auxiliary  manufactures  in  the  Pittsburgh 
District  in  1903  reached  the  mark  of  $40,000,000.00;  air 
brakes,  $8,453,000.00 ;  railway  switch  and  signal  appliances, 
$2,133,000.00;  underground  cable  and  wire,  $12,000,000.00. 

Unique  among  the  manufacturing  interests  of  Pittsburgh 
stands  the  Riter-Conley  Manufacturing  Company,  organ- 
ized April,  1873.  This  company  builds  every  variety  of 
manufacturing  plants,  even  setting  them  in  operation  for 
the  purchaser.  They  will  design  the  most  elaborate  series 
of  mills  or  factories,  and  conceive  and  construct  the  ma- 
chinery to  turn  out  the  product  therein.  They  produce 
annually  100,000  tons  of  manufactured  steel  and  employ 
over  5,000  men.  Some  of  the  largest  furnaces  and  steel 
plants  in  the  world  were  constructed  by  this  concern. 

Another  of  the  remarkable  industries  of  Pittsburgh  is 
the  James  Rees  &  Son's  Company,  contractors  and  builders 
of  river  steamboats,  light-draft  vessels  and  marine  boilers, 
founded  1855  hj  Captain  James  Rees.  This  company  also 
enjoys  a  world-wide  market  for  its  product.  The  boats  con- 
structed by  them  are  built  complete  and  set  up  in  their  plant, 
afterwards  taken  down  and  shipped  to  their  destination. 
They  build  also  every  description  of  land  and  marine  en- 
gines as  well  as  marine  boilers,  in  the  manufacture  of  which 
they  are  specialists.  They  employ  hundreds  of  people,  and 
it  was  in  this  plant  that  the  ten-hour  system  for  a  working 
day  was  inaugurated  in  the  mills  and  shops  of  Pittsburgh 
by  James  Rees. 

The  manufacture  of  light  locomotives  began  in  Pitts- 
burgh in  the  year  1867,  by  Smith  &  Porter,  who  began 
business  in  1866  in  a  single  room  with  rented  power,  on 
Twenty-eighth  street.  The  two  members  of  the  firm,  one 
machinist  and  one  apprentice  constituted  the  entire  work- 
ing force.    A  few  months  afterward  they  began  building  a 

[  254  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

shop  on  Bingham  street  where  they  turned  out  many  sta- 
tionary engines.  On  the  fourth  of  March,  1867,  they  re- 
ceived their  first  locomotive  contract;  on  Thanksgiving 
Day,  nine  months  afterwards,  it  was  shipped.  From  this 
day  the  business  increased  rapidly.  In  1870,  19  locomotives 
of  various  types  were  constructed.  At  about  this  time  the 
style  of  the  firm  became  Porter,  Bell  &  Co.,  and  a  new 
location  for  the  factory  was  selected  on  the  Allegheny 
Valley  Railroad  some  distance  from  the  old  one.  In  1872, 
34  locomotives  were  turned  out ;  in  1875  the  first  locomotive 
with  the  boiler  constructed  wholly  of  crucible  steel  plates 
was  built.  Four  years  afterwards  the  shops  were  greatly 
enlarged ;  and  in  1878,  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Bell,  the  present 
firm  of  the  H.  K.  Porter  Co.  was  organized.  Then  began  the 
method  of  construction  that  permitted  the  locomotive  being 
shipped  in  sections,  among  the  first  of  which  was  one  ex- 
ported to  Japan  in  1880.  In  1891  the  first  compressed-air 
mine  locomotive  was  built,  and  from  this  date  may  be 
reckoned  the  most  vigorous  growth  of  the  company.  The 
system  of  haulage  by  compressed-air  locomotives  is  recog- 
nized as  the  safest,  most  economical  and  reliable  for  under- 
ground work  and  surface  work  where  the  risk  of  fire  is 
hazardous,  and  the  company  has  brought  the  manufacture 
of  this  type  of  locomotive  to  perfection.  The  need  for  more 
room  has  been  met  from  time  to  time  until  to-day  the 
capacity  of  these  works  is  about  300  locomotives  annually. 
As  a  result  of  the  discovery  and  development  of  the 
Pennsylvania  oil  fields,  Pittsburgh  has  become  the  center 
market  for  the  supply  of  the  equipment  necessary  in  work- 
ing these  fields  and  taking  care  of  their  product.  Here  is 
located  the  Oil  Well  Supply  Company,  which  began  with  a 
capital  of  $50,000.00.  It  is  now  rated  at  $1,500,000.00  with 
a  surplus  of  over  $3,000,000.00.  Although  the  main  offices 
of  this  company  are  in  Pittsburgh  its  mammoth  plants  are 
located  in  divers  parts  of  the  country;  the  largest,  the  Im- 
perial Works,  is  at  Oil  City;  another  is  located  at  Bradford. 
Here  engines  and  machinery  of  every  description  necessary 
for  most  any  kind  of  equipment  are  made.  Derrick  rigs  are 
made  at  Parkersburg,  West  Virginia;  sucker-rods  at  Van 
Wert,  Ohio,  Poplar  Bluffs,  Mo.,  and  Memphis,  Tenn.    The 

[  255  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

company  maintains  stores  and  agencies  in  all  oil  producing 
territories,  including  foreign.  It  owns  and  controls  nu- 
merous patents  on  the  machinery  it  manufactures,  and  it 
controls  the  services  of  the  most  resourceful  and  competent 
men  in  the  business. 

In  contrast  with  the  heavier  and  coarser  products  of  the 
Pittsburgh  District  may  be  mentioned  the  fact  that  here  are 
manufactured  the  most  delicate  astronomical  instruments 
at  the  establishment  of  the  John  A.  Brashear  Co.,  Limited. 
They  are  in  use  in  every  well  equipped  observatory  of  the 
world.  There  was  recently  made  at  this  establishment  the 
largest  perfect  plane  in  existence.  It  was  thirty  inches  in 
diameter  and  no  part  of  the  surface  varied  one-millionth 
of  an  inch  from  a  true  plane.  Range  finders  are  also  made 
in  Pittsburgh. 

To  the  foregoing  leading  industries  of  Pittsburgh  may  be 
added  the  manufacture  of  steel  cars,  in  which  over  11,000 
men  are  employed,  over  500,000  tons  of  steel  consumed  and 
40,000  cars  made  annually.  Structual  shapes  were  made 
in  Pittsburgh  in  1902  to  the  amount  of  773,000  tons; 
tubing  650,000  tons,  tin  plate  198,500  tons,  crucible  steel 
62,800  tons,  aluminum  7,500,000  pounds,  cork  (finished  prod- 
uct) 2,500  tons,  38  brick-making  plants  made  50,000,000 
bricks.  In  the  manufacture  of  fire-proofing  material  Pitts- 
burgh leads  the  world  with  an  annual  output  of  1,000,000 
tons.  The  Standard  Sanitary  Manufacturing  Co.,  estab- 
lished 1866,  with  works  in  Allegheny  (covering  10  acres  of 
ground  and  employing  1,000  men)  and  New  Brighton,  Pa., 
Louisville,  Ky.,  Detroit,  Mich.  (2  plants),  is  another  great 
Pittsburgh  industry.  Pickled  and  canned  goods  to  the 
amount  of  $4,650,000.00  annually  are  also  made  here.  The 
principal  manufacturer  of  these  products  is  the  H.  J.  Heinz 
Company,  organized  in  1869.  The  plant  of  this  company 
consists  of  15  brick  buildings  with  an  area  of  672,000  square 
feet  of  floor  space.  There  are  over  3,000  regular  employees, 
and  in  the  summer  over  40,000  persons  harvest  the  com- 
pany's crops  on  nearly  20.000  acres  of  land.  The  annual 
white  lead  output  amounts  to  500  carloads;  manufactured 
copper  6,000.000  pounds,  and  lumber  (consumed  and  dis- 
tributed), 1,000,000,000  feet. 

[  256  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

The  manufacturing  industries  of  Pittsburgh  employ  more 
than  250,000  men;  there  are  5,000  shops,  mills  and  factories, 
and  more  than  $2,000,000,000.00  invested  in  iron  and  steel 
manufacturing. 

To  move  the  vast  tonnage  of  Pittsburgh  with  sufficient 
celerity  to  keep  the  wheels  of  industry  in  motion,  the  rail 
and  water  transportation  facilities  are  adequate  to  meet 
the  present  needs  without  danger  of  serious  congestion  such 
as  blocked  business  in  1903.  Improvements  are  constantly 
being  made  to  keep  pace  with  the  increase  which  amounts 
to  20  per  cent,  yearly.  The  total  tonnage  brought  into 
the  Pittsburgh  District  and  shipped  out  of  it,  not  in- 
cluding freight  in  transit,  for  the  year  1905,  amounted  to 
103,000,000  tons  of  which  92,000,000  was  rail  and  11,000,000 
water  tonnage.  Pittsburgh's  rail  tonnage  is  greater  than 
the  combined  tonnage  of  New  York,  Boston  and  Chicago, 
and  the  traffic  of  her  three  rivers  is  greater  than  that  of 
New  York  city.  The  railroad  lines  entering  Pittsburgh  are 
the  Baltimore  &  Ohio ;  the  Buffalo,  Rochester  &  Pittsburgh ; 
the  Pennsylvania  Company;  the  Pennsylvania  R.  R.  Co., 
the  Pittsburgh'  &  Lake  Erie;  the  Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati, 
Chicago  &  St.  Louis  and  the  Wabash  &  Pittsburgh  Termi- 
nal. The  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Central  Ry.  and  the  Erie 
R.  R.  also  have  arrangements  with  the  Pittsburgh  &  Lake 
Erie  R.  R.  by  which  they  handle  freight  into  and  out  of  the 
Pittsburgh  District  as  though  they  had  their  own  tracks. 
In  the  Pittsburgh  District  it  is  now  possible  to  handle  be- 
tween 20,000  and  25,000  cars  daily.  The  Pennsylvania  alone 
handles  an  average  of  6,500  cars,  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
5,000  and  the  Pittsburgh  &  Lake  Erie  about  4,000.  The 
passenger  traffic  averages  about  1,500,000  a  month.  To 
handle  this  traffic  664  passenger  trains  are  operated.  Of 
this  number  497  arrive  and  depart  through  the  Union  Sta- 
tion, 96  through  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio,  12  through  the 
Wabash  and  59  through  the  Pittsburgh  &  Lake  Erie. 

A  project  which  will  be  of  vast  benefit  to  Pittsburgh,  and 
which  bids  fair  of  reaching  consummation,  is  the  Lake  Erie 
&  Ohio  River  Ship  Canal,  connecting  Pittsburgh  with  Lake 
Erie  via  the  Ohio,  Beaver  and  Mahoning  rivers.  This  water- 
way will  be  15  feet  deep,  and,  it  is  estimated,  will  cost 
17  [  257  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

$33,000,000  when  completed,  and  will  make  Pittsburgh  the 
greatest  inland  harbor  in  the  world,  enabling  her  to  draw 
her  vast  tonnage  of  iron  ores  from  the  Lake  Superior  region 
without  changing  bulk  and  furnishing  a  cheaper  outlet  to 
the  north  for  the  increasing  production  of  coal,  coke  and 
finished  iron  products.  The  Allegheny  river  is  being  im- 
proved for  slack  water  navigation  and  a  movement  is  also 
under  way  to  provide  a  9-foot  stage  of  low  water  from 
Pittsburgh  to  Cairo.  It  is  calculated  when  these  improve- 
ments are  realized  that  the  tonnage  of  the  District  will  in- 
crease 100  per  cent. 

In  the  matter  of  organizations  for  bringing  to  the  public 
notice  the  products  of  this  busy  city,  Pittsburgh  boasts  of 
several,  the  chief  ones  being  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the 
Merchants  &  Manufacturers'  Association,  the  Board  of 
Trade,  the  Builders'  Exchange  League,  and  the  Western 
Pennsylvania  Exposition  Society. 

The  Exposition  Society,  one  of  the  earliest  of  these  in- 
stitutions, first  opened  its  doors  in  October,  1875,  in  a  build- 
ing fronting  South  avenue,  between  School  street  and  Union 
Bridge,  Allegheny.  It  did  not  flourish,  however,  and  at  the 
end  of  two  years  the  management  changed  and  became  more 
effective.  Expositions  were  regularly  held  until  1883,  when 
the  buildings  burned,  entailing  a  loss  of  $750,000,00.  The 
present  society  was  organized  November  seventh,  1885.  A 
plot  was  purchased  on  Duquesne  Way  near  the  Point; 
buildings  costing  $450,000.00  were  erected,  and  the  first 
Exposition  in  Pittsburgh  opened  September,  1899.  In 
March,  1901,  the  buildings,  except  the  Music  Hall,  were 
burned,  but  they  were  rebuilt  at  a  cost,  of  $600,000.00  in 
time  for  the  opening,  September  fourth.  The  annual  at- 
tendance ranges  from  three  to  five  hundred  thousand;  the 
various  railroads  entering  Pittsburgh  co-operate  with  the 
society  by  furnishing  round-trip  transportation  at  one  fare 
to  a  distance  of  two  hundred  miles. 

The  Chamber  of  Commerce,  Pittsburgh's  greatest  com- 
mercial association,  was  chartered  July  eighth,  1876,  and 
supplanted  the  Board  of  Trade  which  had  labored  in  the 
interests  of  the  city  for  so  many  years.  The  Hon.  Thomas 
M.  Howe  was  the  first  president;  John  F.  Dravo,  William 

[  258  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

McCreery,  J.  T.  Stockdale,  Mark  M.  Watson,  J.  K.  Moor- 
head,  H.  W.  Oliver,  Jr.,  J.  S.  Siagle,  vice-presidents ;  these 
and  A.  M.  Marshall,  Captain  R.  C.  Gray,  Joseph  D.  Weeks, 
Edward  Gregg,  C.  Meyran,  J.  G.  Siebeneck,  Simon  Reymer, 
Dr.  David  Hostetter,  George  A.  Kelly,  T.  Brent  Swearin- 
gen,  G.  W.  Hailman,  C.  A.  Carpenter,  William  Frew,  Daniel 
Wallace,  S.  L.  Marvin,  M.  F.  Herron  and  Arthur  Kirk  were 
the  charter  members.  The  Chamber  of  Commerce  has  been 
influential  in  all  matters  both  great  and  small  that  have 
concerned  the  welfare  of  Pittsburgh  since  its  organization. 
It  has  been  foremost  in  every  movement  that  promised  to 
make  Pittsburgh  known  throughout  the  world.  In  addition 
to  attention  to  those  things  relating  to  the  business  require- 
ments of  Pittsburgh,  it  has  been  active  in  all  projects  in- 
tended to  develop  and  bring  prosperity  to  all  sections  of 
the  country.  It  was  a  leader  in  advocacy  of  the  new  De- 
partment of  Commerce  and  Labor;  in  securing  reciprocity 
in  trade  Avith  foreign  countries ;  the  development  of  south- 
ern industries;  the  national  protection  of  the  Mississippi 
river  levee  system  and  in  other  improvements  of  the  water- 
ways to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico ;  in  the  reclamation  by  irrigation 
of  the  arid  lands  of  the  west  and  southwest.  It  is  also  a 
member  of  the  National  Board  of  Trade.  Its  present 
officers  are  H.  D.  W.  English,  president;  Albert  J.  Logan, 
John  Bindley,  Robert  Pitcairn,  A,  P.  Burchfield,  W.  B. 
Rogers,  D.  P.  Black  and  H.  J.  Heinz,  vice-presidents;  Wil- 
liam M.  Kennedy,  treasurer;  Logan  McKee,  secretary. 

The  Pittsburgh  Board  of  Trade  which  was  organized  as 
the  East  End  Board  of  Trade,  chartered  April  first,  1901, 
is  also  influential  in  the  business  community,  centralizing 
its  efforts  for  the  advantage  of  the  eastern  section  of  the 
city.  Its  officers  are  T.  D.  Harman,  president;  J.  H.  Har- 
rison, 0.  H.  Allerton,  vice-presidents;  J.  C.  Aufhammer, 
treasurer,  and  Chauncey  Lobinger,  secretary.  Other 
Boards  of  Trade  performing  the  same  function  for  the 
other  sections  are:  the  Oakland,  the  Eighteenth  Ward,  the 
Mt.  Washington  and  Duquesne  Heights  Boards  of  Trade 
and  the  Bloomfield  Business  Men's  Association.  A  recent 
federation  known  as  the  Commercial  Federation  has  been 
organized  and  is  composed  of  directors  from  all  the  business 

[  259  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

organizations  of  the  city  except  the  Chamber  of  Commerce. 
The  purpose  of  this  organization  is  to  interest  itself  in 
matters  which  do  not  specially  come  under  the  province  of 
the  associations  represented  in  it. 

The  Merchants  and  Manufacturers'  Association  of  Pitts- 
burgh had  its  beginning  in  the  rooms  of  the  Monongahela 
Club,  September  seventeenth,  1903,  when  eleven  of  Pitts- 
burgh's progressive  business  men  met  to  discuss  the  feasi- 
bility of  an  organization  which  would  promote  and  protect 
the  manufacturing,  financial  and  commercial  interests  of 
Pittsburgh,  secure  better  transportation  facilities,  foster 
present  trade  and  procure  new  trade,  and  in  every  way 
possible,  keep  Pittsburgh  and  her  multiplicity  of  vital  af- 
fairs to  the  front.  A  pennanent  organization  was  effected 
February  seventeenth,  1904,  with  a  membership  of  100  lead- 
ing firms.  A  charter  was  granted  April  twenty-fifth,  1904, 
and  its  efforts  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  business  community 
through  its  trade  excursions  into  the  surrounding  territory 
has  increased  year  by  year.  To  this  association  belongs 
the  credit  of  organizing  the  Lake  Erie  &  Ohio  River  Ship 
Canal  Co.,  and  it  has  accomplished  appreciable  results  in 
obtaining  government  appropriations  for  the  improvement 
of  the  Ohio.  Its  present  officers  are  E.  J.  Lloyd,  president ; 
George  A.  Kelly,  Jr.,  first  vice-president;  H.  W.  Neely, 
second  vice-president;  D.  C.  Shaw,  third  vice-president; 
W.  T.  Todd,  treasurer,  and  James  W.  Wardrop,  secretary 
and  general  manager. 

The  Builders'  Exchange  League  was  organized  October 
seventh,  1886,  and  on  July  twenty-seventh,  1903,  the  Build- 
ers' League  affiliated  and  the  two  became  incorporated  as 
tlie  Builders'  Exchange  League  which  is  an  association  of 
master  contractors  and  manufacturers  for  the  encourage- 
ment and  protection  of  the  building  interests  in  Greater 
Pittsburgh.  Any  person,  association  or  organization  whose 
members  furnish  or  manufacture  material,  and  any  person, 
association  or  organization  engaged  in  building  operations 
are  eligible  to  membership.  Over  1,000  of  the  leading  con- 
tractors and  manufacturers  of  Allegheny  county  are  en- 
rolled as  members. 

To  the  foregoing  may  be  added  the  associations  for  the 

[  260  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

protection  and  promotion  of  special  interests  where  the 
greatest  benefits  may  be  gained  through  organization.  The 
most  prominent  of  these  are,  the  Clearing  House  Associa- 
tion, Grrain  and  Flour  Exchange,  Coal  Exchange,  Live  Stock 
Exchange,  Wholesale  Grocers'  Association,  Stock  Ex- 
change, Association  of  Flint  &  Lime  Glass  Manuafcturers, 
Iron  Exchange,  Retail  Merchants'  Exchange,  Fruit  Ex- 
change, and  the  Bankers  and  Bank  Clerks  Mutual  Benefit 
Association. 

Co-extensive  with  the  development  of  Pittsburgh  along 
the  paths  of  industr}^  and  commerce  during  the  past  hun- 
dred years,  is  to  be  found  the  development  of  her  financial 
institutions.  Here  have  been  brought  out  and  maintained 
banking  principles  of  the  highest  order.  In  these  institu- 
tions were  developed  men  who  met  the  sLocks  of  panic  and 
war  with  honor  and  patriotism,  and  though  there  are  pages 
in  the  banking  history  of  Pittsburgh,  through  the  public 
land  and  railroad  speculative  periods  of  the  years  before 
the  Civil  War,  that  had  been  better  left  unwritten,  the 
solidity  of  her  institutions  in  their  entirety  and  the  wisdom 
and  sagacity  with  which  they  are  conducted,  entitles  her  to 
the  place  she  holds  to-day  in  the  financial  world.  To  give 
the  history  of  the  nearly  two  hundred  banks  and  trust  com- 
panies of  Greater  Pittsburgh,  or  Allegheny  county,  will  not 
be  attempted  here.  Pages  of  orderly  figures  are  interesting 
to  mathematicians  —  and  bankers  when  they  relate  to  bank- 
ing —  but  to  the  reader  who  is  tracing  the  story  of  the  rise 
and  progress  of  Pittsburgh  in  such  outline  as  is  given  in 
these  pages,  they  are  not  over  inviting.  Hence  a  sketch  of 
the  pioneer  days  only  is  undertaken,  supplemented  with  a 
comprehensible  table  or  two. 

The  first  banking  business  of  Pittsburgh  was  carried  on 
in  the  office  of  Discount  and  Deposit  which  was  established 
in  a  stone  building  erected  in  1797  on  Second  street  between 
Ferry  and  Chancery  Lane  as  a  branch  of  the  Bank  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Previous  to  this,  barter  was  the  chief  mode  of 
exchange,  as  is  to  be  seen  in  the  early  records  of  commercial 
transactions  in  the  Gazette.  On  the  twenty-second  of 
March,  1803,  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  the 
Borough  of  Pittsburgh  were  requested  to  meet  at  the  court 

[  261  ] 


THE  mSTOHY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

house  on  the  twenty-sixth  for  the  purpose  of  taking  into 
consideration  the  proposal  of  the  Directors  of  the  Bank  of 
Pennsylvania  for  the  establishment  of  a  branch  here.  The 
action  taken  was  favorable,  and  on  the  sixteenth  of  Decem- 
ber it  was  announced  that  the  Directors  of  the  parent  bank 
had  elected  the  following  directors  for  the  branch:  John 
Wilkins,  Jr.,  Presley  Neville,  Oliver  Ormsby,  James 
O'Hara,  James  Berthoud,  Ebenezer  Denny,  Joseph  Barker, 
George  Stevenson,  John  Woods,  Thomas  Baird,  John  John- 
son and  George  Robinson.  Thomas  Wilson  was  appointed 
cashier,  and  after  his  arrival  the  directors  met  and  elected 
John  Wilkins,  Jr.,  President.  Thomas  Wilson  came  from 
Philadelphia  with  John  Thaw  who  was  to  serve  as  teller. 
On  January  fourth,  1804,  it  was  announced  that  the  Office 
of  Discount  and  Deposit  would  open  its  doors  Monday, 
January  ninth.  The  growth  of  this  branch  was  steady;  the 
government  assisted  by  using  it  as  a  depository  for  public 
funds,  $616,088.76  being  on  deposit  January  sixteenth,  1816. 
It  ceased  to  exist  two  years  later  upon  the  suspension  of  the 
main  bank. 

In  the  meantime  other  banks  were  established.  The  Bank 
of  Pittsburgh  was  organized  in  1810,  and  operated  as  a 
private  institution,  the  Pittsburgh  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, until  1814  when  the  State  granted  a  charter  under  the 
style  of  the  Bank  of  Pittsburgh.  William  Wilkins  was  the 
first  President,  being  elected  November  twenty-eighth,  1814. 
Alexander  Johnston,  Jr.,  was  its  first  cashier,  and  George 
Lucky,  teller.  It  began  business  at  the  corner  of  Second 
avenue  and  Ferry  street,  and  later  moved  to  the  corner  of 
Third  avenue  and  Market  street;  in  1838  the  present  loca- 
tion was  acquired  and  the  first  Bank  of  Pittsburgh  was 
erected.  It  was  damaged  by  the  fire  of  1845,  but  was  re- 
stored and  occupied  until  1894,  when  it  was  replaced  by  the 
present  building.  The  original  capital  was  $600,000;  in- 
creased in  1862  to  $1,200,000 ;  in  1904  to  $2,400,000,  the  latter 
increase  being  given  to  the  shareholders  of  the  Merchants' 
and  Manufacturers'  National  Bank  and  the  Iron  City  Na- 
tional Bank  in  exchange  for  their  stock  in  those  banks. 
These  banks  were  absorbed  by  the  Bank  of  Pittsburgh, 
N.  A.  and  liquidated.     This  institution  since  its  organiza- 

[  262  ] 


THE   MUNICIPALITY 

tion  has  been  a  large  factor  in  the  prosperity  of  the  district. 
Throughout  the  numerous  financial  panics  that  have  visited 
the  country  this  bank  continued  to  make  specie  payments. 
During  the  panic  of  1857  it  was  the  only  bank  in  the  United 
States  that  met  its  liabilities  of  every  kind  in  gold.  It  be- 
came a  member  of  the  National  Association  in  1899. 

The  Farmers'  and  Mechanics'  Bank  was  organized  Au- 
gust second,  1814,  with  a  capital  of  $450,000.  John  Scull  of 
the  Gazette  was  its  first  President,  and  George  Lucky, 
cashier. 

In  1817  a  branch  of  the  Bank  of  the  United  States  was 
established  in  Pittsburgh  with  Adamson  Tannehill  as  Presi- 
dent, and  George  Poe,  Jr.,  cashier.  It  was  owing  to  the 
transfer  of  the  government  deposits  from  the  Pittsburgh 
branch  of  the  Bank  of  Pennsylvania  that  the  former  institu- 
tion was  discontinued  in  1818,  and  the  latter,  when  it  was 
found  that  the  government  was  not  likely  to  renew  the  char- 
ter of  the  parent  bank.  In  1836  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  State  re-chartered  it  as  a  State  bank,  known  as  the 
Pennsylvania  Bank  of  the  United  States.  Upon  the  sus- 
pension of  the  parent  bank,  in  1841,  the  Pittsburgh  bank  was 
discontinued. 

Next  came  the  City  Bank  in  1817.  It  made  but  one  dis- 
count, then  closed.  The  notes  which  it  paid  out  were'  re- 
deemed at  the  bookstore  of  its  President,  Robert  Pat- 
terson. In  1822  the  banking  institution  of  Nathaniel 
Holmes  was  established.  Subsequently  it  became  N.  Holmes 
and  Sons,  and  in  1905  was  merged  into  the  Union  National 
Bank.  The  Merchants '  and  Manufacturers '  Bank  was  char- 
tered in  1833.  Michael  Tiernan  was  its  first  president, 
James  Correy,  cashier.  Its  first  home  was  in  the  same  stone 
building  on  Second  street,  which  had  been  occupied  by  the 
Branch  of  the  Bank  of  the  United  States.  In  1834  their  new 
building  on  Fourth  street  was  occupied.  In  1864  it  was  re- 
organized under  the  National  Bank  Law  as  the  Merchants' 
and  Manufacturers'  National  Bank,  and  the  capital  was 
increased  to  $800,000.  In  1904  it  was  absorbed  by  the  Bank 
of  Pittsburgh,  N.  A.  What  is  now  the  Farmers'  Deposit 
Bank  was  incorporated  in  1834  as  the  Pittsburgh  Savings 
Fund  Company  with  the  stipulation  that  the  capital  should 

[  263  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

not  be  less  than  $25,000  nor  more  than  $200,000,  which 
should  at  all  times  be  liable  to  the  demand  of  depositors. 
James  Fulton  was  its  first  president,  Reuben  Miller,  Jr., 
treasurer,  and  James  Anderson,  secretary.  Its  first  loca- 
tion was  on  St.  Clair  (now  Sixth)  street.  In  1841  it  became 
the  Farmers'  Deposit  Bank  with  Gabriel  Adams  as  presi- 
dent and  Thompson  Bell,  cashier.  It  was  re-organized  in 
1865  under  the  National  Bank  Law,  with  a  capital  of 
$300,000.  In  1902  the  capital  was  increased  to  $800,000. 
In  1903  the  present  building  was  occupied. 

The  Exchange  National  Bank  of  Pittsburgh  was  organ- 
ized in  1836  as  the  Exchange  Bank,  with  a  capital  of 
$1,000,000.  Its  first  president  was  William  Robinson,  Jr.; 
cashier,  John  Foster,  Jr.  In  1865  it  became  a  national  bank 
and  has  since  been  known  as  the  Exchange  National  Banl^. 
In  1841  the  private  banking  houses  of  Cook  &  Cassat,  E.  Sib- 
bett  &  Co.,  Sibbett  &  Jones,  and  Allen  Kramer  were  estab- 
lished, and  in  1845  the  banking  house  of  Hill  &  Curry.  From 
then  until  the  early  fifties  several  private  banks  of  minor  im- 
portance were  started  and,  for  one  reason  or  another,  were 
discontinued.  In  1852  the  First  National  Bank  of  Pittsburgh 
was  founded  as  the  Fifth  Ward  Savings  Bank  by  James 
Laughlin  and  his  associates,  with  Mr.  Laughlin  as  president. 
They  purchased  the  Pittsburgh  Trust  &  Savings  Company, 
and  on  July  eighteenth,  1852,  the  Pittsburgh  Trust  Company 
was  organized  with  a  capital  of  $200,000.  Mr.  Laughlin  was 
also  president  of  the  new  institution.  In  1863  they  became, 
under  the  National  Bank  Law,  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Pittsburgh  with  a  capital  of  $400,000.  Mr.  Laughlin  still 
remained  president.  In  July,  1875,  the  capital  was  in- 
creased to  $750,000  and  in  November,  1902,  to  $1,000,000. 
This  bank  is  entitled  to  the  distinction  of  being  the  first 
National  Bank  in  the  United  States,  having  made  the  first 
application  for  a  charter  under  the  new  law.  Its  original 
building  was  near  the  site  of  the  present  one  at  the  corner 
of  Wood  street  and  Fifth  avenue.  Next  came  the  Citizens' 
Bank  in  1852,  which  later  changed  its  name  to  the  Citizens' 
Deposit  Bank  of  Pittsburgh.  It  became  a  National  Bank  in 
1865,  and  in  1902  was  purchased  and  liquidated  by  the  Union 
Trust  Company.    The  Mechanics'  Bank  was  established  in 

[  264  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

1855  with  a  capital  of  $500,000.  It  became  a  National  Bank 
in  1865  and  was  absorbed  by  the  First  National  Bank  in 
1902.  The  Dollar  Savings  Bank  was  organized  in  1855  as  the 
Pittsburgh  Dollar  Savings  Institution,  with  George  Albree 
as  president.  In  1858  it  became  the  Dollar  Savings  Bank.  It 
occupies  the  pleasing  structure  on  the  south  side  of  Fourth 
avenue,  between  Wood  street  and  Fifth  avenue.  The  Alle-  \i-A^-M'. 
gheny  National  Bank  was  established  in  1857  as  the  Alle- 
gheny Bank,  with  a  capital  of  $500,000.  H.  Hepburn  was 
the  first  president  and  J.  W.  Cook,  cashier.  In  1864  it  be- 
came a  National  Bank.  The  Iron  City  Bank  was  also 
granted  a  charter  in  1857  and  in  1864  was  chartered  as  the 
Iron  City  National  Bank.  In  1904  it  was  absorbed  by  the 
Bank  of  Pittsburgh,  N.  A.  The  Pittsburgh  Bank  for^Sav- 
ings  was  organized  in  1862  with  a  capital  of  $75,000.  Its 
first  president  was  James  Park.  The  banking  house  of 
Robinson  Brothers  was  established  the  following  year.  The 
Second  National  Bank,  formerly  the  Iron  City  Trust  Com- 
pany (organized  in  1859),  obtained  a  charter  February 
thirteenth,  1864,  with  a  capital  of  $300,000.  In  1901  the 
capital  was  increased  to  $600,000.  G.  E.  Warner  was  its 
first  president  and  John  E.  Patterson,  cashier.  The  Third 
National  Bank  was  organized  in  1863,  with  a  capital  of 
$300,000.  Adam  Eeineman  was  first  president  and  Robert 
C.  Schmertz,  cashier.  In  1864  the  capital  was  increased  to 
$400,000,  and  in  1867  to  $500,000.  The  Fourth  National 
Bank  was  organized  in  1864,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000, 
which  was  later  increased  to  $300,000.  James  0 'Conner 
was  the  first  president  and  Allen  Dunn,  cashier.  The  Pitts- 
burgh National  Bank  of  Commerce  was  organized  in  1864, 
with  a  capital  of  $500,000,  and  in  1903  was  absorbed  by  the 
Mellon  National  Bank.  The  Tradesmen's  National  Bank 
was  organized  in  1864,  with  a  capital  of  $400,000.  Alex- 
ander Bradley  was  its  first  president  and  George  T.  Van 
Doren,  cashier.  The  People's  National  Bank  was  organized 
in  1864;  capital,  $1,000,000.  The  Duquesne  National  Bank 
was  organized  in  1867  as  the  Coal  Men's  Trust  Company, 
changed  to  the  Duquesne  Bank  in  1872;  re-organized  as  a 
National  Bank,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000,  1875;  the  capital 
was  increased  to  $500,000  in  1901.    The  first  president  was 

[  265  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

W.  G.  Johnston  and  A,  H.  Patterson,  cashier.  The  Lincoln 
National  Bank,  organized  as  the  Masonic  Deposit  Savings 
Bank  in  1868,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000;  re-organized  as 
the  Lincoln  National  Bank,  April,  1893.  Capital  increased 
in  July,  1902,  to  $600,000.  The  Diamond  National  Bank, 
organized  as  the  Diamond  Savings  Bank  in  1871 ;  re-organ- 
ized as  the  Diamond  National  Bank  in  1875,  with  a  capital 
of  $200,000.  Capital  increased  to  $500,000  in  July,  1902. 
The  City  Deposit  Bank,  organized  in  1866,  as  the  City  De- 
l^osit  Bank  and  Trust  Company.  Its  first  president  was  Dr. 
John  Q.  Marchand ;  cashier,  E.  A.  Macrum.  The  Liberty  Na- 
tional Bank,  organized  in  1890,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000, 
with  John  H.  McKelvey,  president,  and  D.  C.  Kuhn,  cashier. 
The  Fidelity  Title  and  Trust  Company,  organized  in  1886, 
with  William  0,  H.  Scully  as  the  first  president,  and  James 
T.  Armstrong,  secretary  and  treasurer.  Its  capital  was  in- 
creased to  $2,000,000  in  1893.  The  National  Bank  of  West- 
ern Pennsylvania,  organized  in  1893,  with  a  capital  of 
$300,000.  First  president,  James  Hemphill;  cashier, 
Charles  McKnight.  In  March,  1897,  the  capital  was  in- 
creased to  $500,000.  The  Mellon  National  Bank,  organized 
in  1869,  as  the  private  banking  house  of  T.  Mellon  &  Sons. 
In  1902  it  became  the  Mellon  National  Bank  with  a  paid-up 
capital  of  $2,000,000.  In  1903  it  absorbed  the  Pittsburgh 
National  Bank  of  Commerce.  The  Union  National  Bank, 
organized  as  the  Union  Banking  Company  in  1859;  re- 
organized as  the  Union  National  Bank  in  1864.  The  first 
president  was  John  R.  McCune,  and  cashier,  Robert  S. 
Smith.  Capital,  $250,000.  The  People's  Saving  Bank,  or- 
ganized 1866,  capital  $100,000.  First  president,  Thomas 
Mellon;  vice-president,  William  Rea;  secretary  and  treas- 
urer, George  M.  Petty.  In  1903  capital  increased  to  $1,000,- 
000.  The  same  year  it  was  acquired  by  the  Safe  Deposit  & 
Trust  Company,  which  also  owns  and  controls  the  People's 
National  Bank.  It  occupies  the  splendid  building  at  Fourth 
avenue  and  Wood  street.  The  Union  Trust  Company,  or- 
ganized in  1889,  as  the  Union  Transfer  &  Trust  Company. 
First  president,  Andrew  W.  Mellon ;  first  treasurer,  William 
A.  Carr.  In  1902  charter  amended  and  name  became  Union 
Trust  Company  of  Pittsburgh.    Authorized  capital,  $250,- 

[  266  ] 


THE    MUNICIPALITY 

000,  Began  business  in  the  Fidelity  Title  &  Trust  Company 
building.  In  1894  moved  into  the  old  Oil  Exchange  build- 
ing. Building  destroyed  1897  and  company  moved  to  244 
Fourth  avenue,  and  remained  there  until  present  building 
was  erected  in  1899.  1901  capital  increased  to  $500,000; 
June,  1902,  to  $1,000,000;  in  December,  1902,  to  $1,500,000. 
This  company  controls  several  other  banking  institutions 
of  the  city. 

There  are  many  banking  institutions  of  prominence  in 
Greater  Pittsburgh,  which  space  forbids  mentioning.  "  At 
the  close  of  the  year,  1905,  there  were  in  this  district  177 
chartered  banks  and  trust  companies  of  which  96  were 
located  in  Pittsburgh,  12  in  Allegheny  and  67  in  the  county 
outside  these  two  districts.  These  institutions  reported 
total  resources  of  $558,855,724  and  an  increase  of  $38,500,- 
000  for  the  year,  with  an  increase  of  $220,000,000  in  the  past 
four  years.  The  capital  stock  of  these  177  banks  and  trust 
companies  amounts  to  $67,457,279,  and  the  amount  of  divi- 
dends paid  during  the  past  year,  $6,822,526,  or  about  10^. 
The  surplus  reported  was  $85,425,461,  and  the  undivided 
profits  a  little  more  than  $18,000,000.  The  total  capital, 
surplus  and  undivided  profits  amounted  to  $170,000,000  and 
the  dividends  paid  were  approximately  4  per  cent,  of  this 
sum. ' ' 

An  idea  of  the  business  done  in  Pittsburgh  may  be  gained 
from  the  total  of  the  Clearing  House  exchanges  for  the  year 
1905,  which  amounted  to  $2,506,069,215.96. 

The  subjoined  table  shows  the  growth  of  banking  institu- 
tions in  Allegheny  county  for  the  past  quarter  of  a  century. 


[  267  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 


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[  268  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 


THE   SCHOOLS 


Colonel  Bouquet,  when  in  charge  of  Fort  Pitt,  ordered 
in  1761,  a  numbering  of  the  people  in  Pittsburgh ;  according 
to  this  there  were  forty-eight  children,  and  James  Kenney, 
a  storekeeper,  recorded  in  his  diary  that  the  inhabitants 
hired  a  schoolmaster  and  paid  him  sixty  pounds  per  annum, 
but  there  is  no  record  of  the  length  of  his  stay  nor  the 
quality  of  his  service.  There  was,  however,  no  schoolmaster 
when  all  the  villagers  were  crowded  into  the  fort  during  the 
siege  of  Pontiac,  from  May  to  August,  1763.  Nor  is  there 
evidence  of  any  attempt  to  school  the  children  when  tran- 
quillity was  restored  along  the  border  in  the  early  autumn 
of  1764.  Year  succeeded  year,  and,  among  the  meagre 
records  of  the  doings  of  men,  there  is  no  mention  of  their 
endeavor  to  educate  the  children.  The  sixties  passed  away, 
the  seventies  witnessed  the  bitter  dispute  between  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Virginia  regarding  the  territory  including  Pitts- 
burgh ;  but  in  the  desperate  throes  of  rending  the  new  con- 
tinent from  the  old,  this  local  issue  lost  its  preeminence. 

The  advantageous  position  of  Pittsburgh,  as  a  base  of 
supplies,  for  the  operations  against  Detroit  and  the  lake 
country  during  the  Eevolution,  increased  its  importance, 
and  this,  in  conjunction  with  other  causes,  brought  about  an 
increase  in  population,  and  there  may  have  been  other 
schools  beside  the  one  mentioned  by  James  Kenney.  The 
first  vague  trace  of  ' '  the  old  Pittsburgh  Academy  "  is  to  be 
found  in  1783,  and  the  first  definite  information  regarding 

[  269  ] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

schools  is  in  one  of  the  articles  by  H.  H.  Brackenridge  in  the 
Gazette  of  September,  1786,  in  which  he  stated  that ' '  one  or 
two  schools  are  established  to  teach  the  first  elements,  but  it 
is  greatly  desirable  that  there  be  such  which  can  conduct  to 
more  advancement  in  science. ' '  It  was  due  to  the  individual 
and  indefatigable  efforts  of  Judge  Brackenridge  that  the 
Pittsburgh  Academy,  the  first  educational  institution  of 
note  in  the  town,  was  founded. 

Whether  the  "  one  or  two  schools,"  mentioned  by  Judge 
Brackenridge,  taught  the  "  first  elements  "  to  boys  only,  is 
not  stated.  The  earliest  indisputable  record  of  a  Pittsburgh 
school  appeared  in  the  Gazette  of  November  tenth,  1786, 
listed  in  this  fashion : 

*^  A  Boarding  and  Day  School  for  Young  Ladies, 

Will  be  opened  on  Wednesday,  the  fifteenth  instant,  by  Mrs. 
Pride,  in  the  house  where  John  Gibson  formerly  lived,  be- 
hind his  stone  house,  where  there  will  be  taught  the  follow- 
ing branches  of  needle-work,  namely,  plain  work,  colored 
work,  flowering,  lace,  both  by  the  bobin  and  the  needle, 
fringing,  Dresden,  tabouring  and  embroidering.  Also  read- 
ing, English,  and  knitting  if  required.  Mrs.  Pride  from  the 
long  experience  she  has  had  as  a  teacher  and  the  liberal 
encouragement  she  has  met  with  hitherto  both  in  Britain 
and  in  Philadelphia  flatters  herself  that  by  the  utmost  at- 
tention in  teaching  the  said  branches  as  also  taking  the 
strictest  care  to  the  morals  and  good  breeding  of  the  young 
ladies  placed  under  her  care  that  upon  trial  she  will  also 
merit  the  approbation  and  encouragement  of  the  inhabitants 
on  this  side  the  Allegheny  mountains." 

The  next  school  advertised  was  for  boys,  kept  by  one 
Thomas  Towsey,  which  he  announced  would  be  opened  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  M 'Nickel  on  Front  street,  where  he  would 
teach  ' '  the  Latin  language,  reading  English  grammatically, 
writing,  arithmetic,  etc.,"  and  in  a  nota  bene  declared  "  an 
ev^T^ing  school  is  also  to  be  kept  in  the  same  house."  This 
notice  appeared  in  the  Pittsburgh  Gazette,  January  fifth, 
1788. 

In  the  meantime  the  "Academy  "  was  chartered  and 

[  270  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

flourished,  but  the  newspapers  have  many  advertisements 
of  other  schools,  which  must  have  received  some  patronage; 
among  others:  "  N.  C.  Visinier  respectfully  returns  his 
thanks  to  the  persons  who  have  employed  him  as  French 
teacher  since  he  has  been  in  this  place."  But  there  seems 
to  have  been  an  objection  to  his  prices  and  he  further  says 
that  he  will  reduce  his  charge  "  from  ten  dollars  to  six  for 
such  as  will  attend  his  lodging  and  eight  dollars  for  those 
he  may  attend  at  their  home."  This  was  in  the  autumn  of 
1798. 

And  it  was  indicated  in  Mr,  McDonald's  advertisement 
that  the  young  men  were  even  then  beginning  those  long 
working  hours  which  have  made  the  city  what  it  has  be- 
come: 

**  Evening  Tuition. 

**  For  the  convenience  and  advantage  of  such  as  cannot 
attend  to  instructions  in  the  public  day  school,  Mr.  Mc- 
Donald, by  desire,  proposes  opening  an  evening  school,  in 
which  will  be  taught  Arithmetic,  in  its  various  applications 
to  business  or  the  Sciences,  bookkeeping,  mensuration  and 
geography,  writing  in  its  several  sizes  and  proportions,  the 
English  language  correctly  and  grammatically. 

*'  It  is  expected  the  tuition  will  commence  on  Monday 
evening,  the  15th  of  October  inst.  Applications  will  be  re- 
ceived at  Mr.  Jonathan  Plummer's,  or  at  Mr.  McDonald's 
school  room. 

''  Pittsburgh  Gazette,  October  twelve,  1798." 

The  outcome  of  many  of  the  educational  notices,  which 
appeared  during  the  next  few  years,  is  a  mere  matter  of 
conjecture,  but  one  signed  by  John  Taylor,  the  Rector  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  —  always  called  the  ' '  Old  Round 
Church  "  —  is  curiously  interesting. 

' '  The  subscriber  takes  the  liberty  of  informing  the  public 
that  he  intends  to  open  a 

Night  School 

on  Wednesday,  the  14th  of  October  next,  in  one  of  the 
rooms  of  the  Academy,  where  he  means  to  teach  writing, 

[  271  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

arithmetic  and  geometry.  Any  person  who  has  made  a 
tolerable  proficiency  in  mathematicks,  if  his  curiosity 
prompts  him,  may,  in  the  course  of  one  quarter,  learn  the 
whole  process  of  making  an  Almanack. 

''  John   Taylor. 
"  September  twenty-nine,  1801. 


>> 


Mr.  Robert  Steele,  who  later  took  charge  of  the  Pres- 
byterian congregation,  opened  a  school  January,  1803. 
The  youth  of  the  town,  in  the  beginning  of  the  century  were 
in  good  hands,  for  these  men,  with  others  perhaps,  of  lesser 
ability  about  them  unquestionably  left  their  mark  in  the 
general  upraising  of  the  educational  standards  of  that  time. 
The  following  is  Mr.  Steele 's  announcement : 

*'  Education. 

*'  The  subscriber,  being  about  to  leave  the  Pittsburgh 
Academy,  intends  to  open  a  school  in  his  house  in  Second 
street,  on  the  5th  of  January  next,  for  the  reception  of  a 
limited  number  of  pupils,  to  be  instructed  in  the  Latin  and 
Greek  languages,  writing,  arithmetic,  elements  of  geometry, 
geography,  etc.  He  will  have  frequent  examinations,  con- 
sidering them  best  calculated  to  bring  into  operation  two 
powerful  incentives  to  application,  the  love  of  praise,  and 
the  dread  of  disgrace.  On  such  occasions  the  attendance  of 
parents,  guardians  and  men  of  education  will  be  requested. 
He  looks  for  no  patronage  but  that  to  which  his  attention 
to  the  improvement  of  his  pupils  in  literature  and  morals 
will  entitle  him. 

' '  Tuition  in  Latin  and  Greek  $4.00  a  quarter. 

^'  Robert  Steele. 

"  December  twenty-three,  1802." 

*'  E.  Carr  opened  a  school  for  children  of  both  sexes  in 
January,  1803,"  and  endeavored  "  to  merit  every  favor 
conferred  on  him."  Mr.  Carr  was  evidently  successful  for, 
in  the  following  year,  he  removed  to  larger  quarters  over 
the  genial  Chevalier  Dubac's  store  in  Market  street,  where 
he  assured  the  parents  of  the  children  entrusted  to  his  care, 

[  272  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

that  the  utmost  attention  will  be  paid  to  their  education  and 
morals.  Mr.  Carr  continued  to  succeed  for,  in  March,  1808, 
he  opened  a  boarding  school  for  young  men. 

In  April,  1818,  he  removed  his  school  to  Third  street, 
between  Wood  and  Smithfield  streets,  where  he  taught  the 
* '  usual  branches, ' '  and  where  Mrs.  Carr  instructed  ' '  young 
ladies,  in  a  separate  room,  the  usual  branches  and  all  kinds 
of  needle-work."  This  is  the  last  notice  of  Mr.  Carr's 
school,  but  surely,  though  the  written  record  stops  here,  it 
may  be  his  influence  is  still  potent  in  the  sons'  sons  of  the 
community. 

William  Jones  opened  a  school  in  May  of  1804,  where  the 
primary  branches  were  taught  at  two  dollars  per  quarter. 

Throughout  these  early  years  of  the  century  the  news- 
papers contained  three  or  four  advertisements  a  year  of 
schools.  The  tuition  generally  demanded  for  the  plain 
branches  was  two  dollars  per  quarter,  and  French  was  often 
offered  as  an  extra.  On  February  twenty-fourth,  1808,  the 
following  insert  appeared: 

"  Samuel  Kingston  respectfully  informs  the  inhabitants 
of  Pittsburgh  that  he  will  open  a  school  on  the  6th  of  April 
next,  in  a  room  of  Mrs.  Irvin's  house,  corner  of  Market 
St.  and  the  Diamond,  where  he  will  teach  reading,  writing, 
arithmetic,  book-keeping,  English  grammar,  geography, 
mensuration,  trigonometry  and  navigation  on  the  most  ap- 
proved plans.    Also  he  runs  a  Night  school." 

In  1811  Mr.  Kingston's  school  was  in  a  stone  house  on 
Second  street. 

On  September  thirtieth,  1811,  J.  Graham  announced  his 
intention  to  open  a  select  school  over  the  store  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Alger,  in  Market  street,  but  perhaps  Mr.  Graham 
was  delayed,  as  "  J.  Graham  takes  the  liberty  to  acquaint 
his  friends,  that  he  opened  school,  on  the  1st  of  April,  1812, 
in  the  stone  house,  Second  St.,  formerly  occupied  by  Mr. 
Kingston.  Pupils  will  be  educated  in  the  several  branches 
of  an  English  and  classical  education  upon  moderate  terms. 
Those  who  wish  to  call  upon  Mr.  G.  will  find  him  at  any 
time  within  school  hours,  in  his  school  room  as  above.  Mrs. 
Graham  will  also,  at  the  same  time,  open  a  school  in  adjoin- 
ing room  for  the  tuition  of  young  ladies,  who  shall  be  in- 
i8  [  273  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

structed  in  all  things  requisite  to  an  English  education,  and 
a  complete  knowledge  of  needle-work." 

The  theory  of  female  education  at  this  time  is  interesting, 
perhaps,  even  amusing  to  the  learned  women  of  to-day. 
Mr.  Thomas  Hunt  started  the  first  school  in  the  surumer  of 
1811, ''  designed  for  the  instruction  of  females  exclusively." 
The  hours  of  attendance  in  summer  were  from  8  to  12 
A.  M.,  and  from  2  to  5  P.  M.;  in  the  winter  from  9  to  12 
A.  M.,  and  from  2  to  5  P.  M.  Terms  of  tuition  for  spelling 
and  reading,  three  dollars  per  quarter;  for  writing,  arith- 
metic and  English  grammar,  four  dollars  per  quarter.  But 
the  newspapers  bear  testimony  that  in  female  education 
during  this  period,  the  various  kinds  of  needle-work  are 
dwelt  upon  as  paramount,  and,  almost  as  an  after-thought^ 
reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic  are  included  ''  if  neces- 
sary. ' ' 

Aquilla  M.  Bolton,  a  man  prominent  in  the  general  affairs 
of  the  town,  established  an  academy  for  a  limited  number  of 
young  ladies. 

Another  quaint  advertisement  in  the  Gazette  was: 
''  Messrs.  Chute  and  Noyes'  Evening  School  commences 
the  first  of  October  next.  They  also  propose  on  Sabbath 
morning  the  22nd  instant  to  open  a  Sunday  morning  school 
to  commence  at  the  hour  of  eight  A.  M.  and  continue  until 
ten.  They  propose  to  divide  the  males  and  females  into 
separate  departments.  The  design  of  the  school  is  to  in- 
struct those  who  wish  to  attend  the  Catechism  and  hear 
them  read  the  Holy  Scriptures.  No  pecuniary  compensa- 
tion is  desired,  a  consciousness  of  doing  good  will  be  an 
ample  reward." 

John  C.  Brevost  commenced  teaching  French  in  this 
locality  in  1812,  and  in  1814  Mrs.  and  Miss  Brevost  pro- 
posed to  open  a  boarding  and  day  school:  ''  For  young 
ladies,  Mrs.  and  Miss  Brevost  have  the  honor  to  inform 
the  public  that  they  intend  opening  a  school  in  Pittsburgh 
on  the  3rd  day  of  October  next.  Where  shall  be  taught  on 
the  following  terms : 

"  Reading,  Writing,  Arithmetic. 

''  English  Grammar,  History. 

"  Geography,  with  the  use  of  maps  and  globes,  etc., 
$8  quarterly. 

[  274  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

'^  Playing  on  the  piano,  $10  quarterly. 

'*  Vocal  Music,  $5  quarterly. 

''  The  Drawing  and  Painting  of  flowers,  $6  quarterly. 

^'  And  the  French  Language,  $5  quarterly. 

"  Boarding,  $37.50. 

*'  Every  quarter  to  be  paid  in  advance  by  boarders. 
Dancing,  books,  materials  for  writing,  drawing,  sewing, 
etc.,  washing,  bed  and  bedding  to  be  paid  for  separately, 
or  provided  by  the  parents.  Verbal  applications  will  be 
thankfully  received  after  the  20th  of  September  in  their 
house  in  Second  street  and  by  letters  directed  to  John  C. 
Brevost. 

"  Pittsburgh,  August  twentieth,  1814." 

The  advance  in  the  tuition  over  the  earlier  rates  is 
startling,  though  this  may  have  been  due  to  the  general  in- 
crease in  prices  owing  to  the  war. 

Mrs.  Gazzam  removed  her  seminary  to  the  house  formerly 
occupied  by  Philip  Mowry  on  Fifth  street.  The  young 
ladies  were  instructed  in  the  elementary  branches  and 
needle-work  at  four  dollars  per  quarter.  They  were  taught 
to  cut,  make,  and  repair  their  own  clothes;  were  permitted 
to  visit  their  parents  once  a  week,  but  were  allowed  to 
receive  no  young  men  visitors,  unless  attended  by  a  servant. 
The  terms  of  boarding  were  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
dollars  per  annum. 

Miss  Anna  and  Arabella  Watts  respectfully  informed 
the  public  that  they  would  instruct  young  ladies  in  the 
various  branches  of  fancy  and  needle-work,  and  hoped  by 
their  experience  and  attention  to  meet  a  share  of  public 
patronage. 

Throughout  these  years,  school  advertisements  run  on  in 
about  the  same  number,  and  there  is  offered  about  the  same 
degree  of  instruction.  But  in  October,  1815,  John  Board- 
man  announced  his  design  to  open  a  school  in  Pittsburgh  at 
three  dollars  per  quarter,  on  the  Lancasterian  plan,  which 
was  at  that  time  popular  in  many  of  the  Eastern  cities. 
The  old  Lancasterian  system  offered  such  a  royal  road  to 
learning,  and  was  indorsed  by  such  eminent  men,  that  a 
prospectus  may  be  of  interest: 

[  275  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

"  Lancastekian  System  of  Education. 

'  *  We  have  the  pleasure  of  informing  the  public  that  they 
have  it  now  in  their  power  to  avail  themselves  of  the  ad- 
vantages of  a  Lancasterian  school  in  this  town.  Mr.  Babe 
who  has  taught  in  one  of  the  most  celebrated  Lancasterian 
seminaries  in  Europe  proposes  to  open  such  a  school  here 
on  the  1st  of  January  provided  a  sufficient  number  of  pupils 
can  be  obtained.  When  the  facts  are  duly  considered  by 
parents,  that  one  master  can  teach  500  children;  that  each 
of  those  children  may  have  16  times  as  much  exercise  in 
reading  as  100  with  one  teacher  on  the  old  plan;  that  in 
four  hours  every  child  in  the  school  of  500  in  number,  may 
have  four  lessons  of  half  an  hour  each  and  have  four  hours 
more  for  exercise  in  writing  and  arithmetic,  and  that  a 
child  may,  upon  the  Lancasterian  plan  be  taught  as  much  in 
two  years  as  would  require  five  years  in  the  ordinary  way, 
the  advantages  are  too  obvious  to  be  overlooked  or  disre- 
garded, and  moreover  when  the  practicability  of  the  system 
has  been  so  completely  and  so  satisfactorily  tested  both  in 
Europe  and  America,  we  certainly  conceive  ourselves  justi- 
fied in  recommending  it  to  the  attention  of  our  readers.  In 
an  economical  point  of  view  this  system  strongly  recom- 
mends itself  to  the  public  attention.  The  teaching  of  500 
scholars  in  the  ordinary  way  costs  $16.00  per  scholar  an- 
nually, making  a  total  of  $8,000,  whilst  on  the  Lancasterian 
plan  the  salary  of  one  teacher  with  fuel  and  a  person  to 
attend  the  fires,  etc.,  would  be  the  only  expense  for  500 
scholars,  making  a  saving  in  one  year  of  twice  as  much  as 
would  erect  a  suitable  building  for  the  system  and  a  saving 
in  point  of  time  to  the  scholars,  of  three  years  out  of  every 
five.  On  the  old  system  the  expense  exceeds  the  means  of 
the  laboring  poor;  nothing  therefore  remains  to  them  but 
charity  schools,  a  gratuity  which  that  independence  of  senti- 
ment possessed  of  every  American  can  hardly  suffer  him  to 
accept,  nor  should  this  sentiment  be  suppressed;  it  is  the 
stamina  of  the  liberties  of  the  country;  the  basis  of  its 
glory.  Every  step  by  which  the  acquirement  of  useful 
knowledge  can  be  facilitated  ought  to  command  the  coun- 
tenance and  patronage  of  the  citizens  of  a  free  country; 

[  276  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

the  stability  of  whose  republican  institutions  depend  so 
much  upon  the  intelligence  of  the  great  body  of  the  people, 
and  to  the  general  diffusion  of  knowledge  in  political  econ- 
omy, we  may  look  for  the  permanent  establishment  of  our 
popular  government.  Where  a  free  government  has  been 
established  it  is  the  interest,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  people,  to 
watch  over  it,  with  a  jealous  eye,  and  prevent  its  being 
sapped  or  undermined  by  artful  or  designing  men.  And  is 
it  among  the  uninformed,  illiterate  men  we  are  to  look  for 
those  vigilant  guardians  of  the  public  weal?  No.  As  well 
might  we  look  for  integrity  among  robbers,  and  public 
virtues  among  the  kings  of  the  earth.  No.  It  is  among  an 
instructed  people,  a  people  who  know  and  can  appreciate 
their  own  rights;  a  people  who  understand  the  difference 
between  a  government  conducted  on  the  pure  principles  of 
public  utility  and  that  which  loses  sight  of  the  public  interest 
engulfing  itself  in  the  private  emolument  of  the  venal  crew 
who  exercise  its  functions.  Among  an  enlightened  and  in- 
telligent people  only  can  we  expect  to  find  the  faithful  and 
effectual  guardians  of  a  free  government. 

"  Subscription  papers  are  left  with  the  Rev.  Francis 
Herron,  Rev.  John  Taylor,  John  M.  Snowden,  Mr.  Andrew 
Scott  and  at  this  office."  —  Pittsburgh  Gazette,  December 
second,  1817. 

Despite  the  fact  that  this  system  was  given  a  thorough 
trial  throughout  the  country,  it  proved  utterly  ineffectual, 
but  Mr.  Boardman  in  the  autumn  of  1817,  had  a  school  for 
boys,  which  was  quite  successful. 

The  proprietors  of  ' '  Harmonic  ' '  established  a  seminary 
for  young  ladies  in  the  fall  of  1818.  Among  the  gentlemen 
who  served  as  trustees  were  James  Ross,  Henry  Baldwin, 
William  Wilkins  and  Walter  Forward,  of  Pittsburgh,  and 
men  of  equal  eminence  from  the  surrounding  towns.  This 
school  was  of  excellent  service  to  the  community.  The 
terms,  including  boarding,  washing,  books,  stationery  and 
tuition,  were  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Stockton,  at  one  time  principal  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Academy,  conducted  a  school  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Allegheny  bridge  for  a  select  number  of  scholars  in 
the  spring  of  1820. 

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THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

There  are  living,  even  now,  a  few  of  the  charming  women 
who  were  educated  by  Miss  M.  Oliver  at  the  Edgeworth 
Boarding  School,  Braddocksfield,  near  Pittsburgh,  in  the 
house  built  by  Judge  Wallace  in  1804. 

Miss  Oliver  made  the  following  elaborate  notice  so  ap- 
propriate in  those  days : 

"  Edgew^orth  Ladies'   Boarding   School,   November   first, 
1831. 

"  Braddocksfield,  near  Pittsburgh,  will  recommence  its 
engagements  the  first  Monday  of  November  next.  The  in- 
creased approbation  given  to  this  institution  cannot  fail  to 
produce  a  corresponding  zeal  and  energy  and  a  desire  to 
secure  the  good  opinions  of  many,  as  many  additions  have 
been  made  for  the  convenience  and  well  doing  of  the  pupils. 
Edgeworth  Seminary  has  been  now  of  several  years '  stand- 
ing, and  experience  enables  it  to  offer  rather  an  increase 
than  dimunition  of  means  to  give  satisfaction.  To  study, 
coercive  means  are  not  employed,  reference  is  made  to  the 
heart  as  well  as  the  head,  and  the  study  of  every  branch, 
and  the  proportion  of  time  given  to  it  will  be  subservient 
and  tributary  to  useful  and  moral  and  religious  improve- 
ment. Sabbath  day  engagements  must  not  be  interrupted 
unnecessarily.  Pupils  living  at  a  distance,  or  from  any 
cause  disposed  to  make  Braddocksfield,  during  the  vacation, 
their  home,  are  invited  to  do  so  and  no  additional  charge  is 
made. 

' '  Terms :  Tuition  in  English  branches  —  reading,  writ- 
ing, arithmetic,  grammar,  composition,  geography,  astron- 
omy, with  the  use  of  globes,  natural  philosophy,  chemistry, 
history;  also  plain  and  ornamental  needle  work.  Per  an- 
num $130.  Tuition  in  music,  $40;  drawing,  crayon,  pencil 
and  water  colors,  $24 ;  in  oil  painting,  $40 ;  French,  $20. 

''  M.  Oliver." 

This  school  was  afterwards  removed  to  Sewickley  and 
continued  to  flourish  until  about  1868. 

The  first  notice  of  the  *'  Western  Female  Collegiate  In- 
stitution," which  continued  many  years  and  played  an  im- 
portant part,  appeared  in  the  Pittsburgli  Gazette,  October 

[  278  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

second,  1832.  It  was  located  on  Erin  Hill,  one  mile  east  of 
the  city  of  Pittsburgh. 

''  The  design  of  the  Institute  is  to  impart  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  all  solid  branches  of  female  education,  and 
having  engaged  teachers  of  learning  and  experience,  the 
president  hopes  to  fulfill  the  design.  The  expense  of  board 
and  tuition  in  the  Institute  will  vary  according  to  the 
branches  taught,  from  one  hundred  and  twenty  to  two  hun- 
dred dollars,  per  annum. 

"  Dr.  Aikiii  teaches  natural  science.  If  you  want  a  good 
practical  mathematician,  one  of  the  best  botanists  in  Amer- 
ica, an  experimental  chemist  and  a  very  superior  geologist, 
mineralogist,  and  zoologist,  you  have  it  in  him.  Dr.  William 
Aikin. 

^'  On  the  twenty-second  ultimo,  we  attended  the  first  ex- 
amination of  the  students,  and  deem  it  an  act  of  justice  to 
give  the  public  a  responsible  assurance  of  the  promise  of 
this  new  Seminary.  The  young  ladies  were  examined  in 
rhetoric,  moral,  mental  and  natural  philosophy,  criticism. 
Belle  Lettres,  geography,  and  the  use  of  the  globes,  arith- 
metic, the  French  language,  and  other  studies  essential  to  a 
polite  and  finished  education.  In  all,  great  readiness  and 
proficiency  were  exhibited;  indeed,  we  know  of  no  advan- 
tage desirable  in  an  institute  of  this  kind,  which  this  does 
not  seem  to  possess. 

''  George  Upfold,  D.  D.,  James  S.  Craft, 

"  T.  B.  Dallas,  Nathaniel  Richardson, 

''  J.  R.  M'Nickle,  Charles  Shaler, 

'*  William  Wade,  Orlando  Metcalf, 

''  Edward  Y.  Buchanan,  John  A.  Davis." 

The  Western  Theological  Seminary,  Allegheny,  was 
founded  in  1825. 

'*  The  General  Assembly  taking  into  consideration  the 
numerous  and  rapidly  increasing  population  of  that  part  of 
the  United  States  and  their  Territories  situated  in  the  great 
Mississippi  Valley,  and  believing  that  the  interests  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  imperiously  required  it,  and  that  the 
Redeemer's  kingdom  would  thereby  be  promoted,  resolved 
that  it  was  expedient  to  establish  a  Theological  Seminary 

[  279  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

in  tlie  West,  under  the  supervision  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly." 

Such  was  the  action  taken  by  this  body  in  1825.  The 
urgent  need  of  an  institution  in  the  west  for  the  prepara-^ 
tion  of  young  men  for  the  ministry  had  been  presented  for 
its  consideration  and  the  response  was  hearty  and  imme- 
diate. Two  days  later  a  name  was  selected  for  the  institu- 
tion, its  line  of  work  defined,  its  plan,  or  construction  was 
substantially  determined,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Francis  Her- 
ron,  Obadiah  Jennings,  Matthew  Brown,  Samuel  Ralston, 
Ashbel  Green,  Elisha  P.  Swift,  Elisha  McCurdy,  William 
Speer,  Thomas  Barr,  William  Jeffries,  Robert  M.  Laid, 
Robert  Johnston,  Thomas  E.  Hughes,  Charles  S.  Beatty, 
Joseph  Stockton,  Joseph  Treat,  Randolph  Stone,  Andrew 
Wylie,  Thomas  D.  Baird,  James  Graham,  Francis  McFar- 
land,  and  Elders  Matthew  B.  Lowrie,  John  Hannen,  John 
M.  Snowden,  Samuel  Thompson,  George  Hummer,  Ben- 
jamin Williams,  Aaron  Kerr,  Reddick  McKee  and  Thomas 
Henry,  were  chosen  the  first  Board  of  Directors.  In  1827 
the  Assembly  took  further  action,  locating  the  institution 
at  Allegheny,  or  "Allegheny town,  opposite  Pittsburgh," 
as  the  site  was  then  described,  and  making  due  provision 
for  the  commencement  of  its  work.  In  the  autumn  of  this 
year  its  first  class  was  formed  and  its  educational  work 
properly  begun. 

The  choice,  as  the  history  of  the  institution  has  shown,> 
was  wisely  made.  The  seminary  in  course  of  time  ceased, 
indeed,  to  be  western  in  the  strict  sense  of  the  term;  but 
became  central  to  one  of  the  most  important  and  influential 
sections  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  equally  accessible  to 
the  east  and  west,  ranking  perhaps  next  to  the  Theological 
Department  of  Princeton  University.  In  the  midst  of  this 
city  of  over  half  a  million  of  people,  the  center  of  strong 
Presbyterian  Churches  and  church  life,  the  students  have 
unlimited  opportunities  of  gaining  familiarity  with  the  work 
of  city  evangelization. 

The  Seminary  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1854,  but  was  re- 
built in  1856.  There  are  now  three  buildings,  the  Seminary 
Hall,  Memorial  Hall  and  the  Library;  also  five  dwellings 
for  the  professors.    Memorial  Hall  is  the  bequest  of  Mrs. 

[  280  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

Hetty  Beatty.  Fifty-two  scholarships  have  been  founded, 
and  though  funds  have  many  times  been  scanty,  the  Semi- 
nary has  met  with  much  generous  treatment.  The  first 
class  met  November  sixteenth,  1827,  and  consisted  of  four 
students;  there  are  about  seventy  students  for  the  years 
1905-1906. 

The  following  professors  have  served  the  institution : 

Rev.  Jacob  Jones  Janeway.  D,  D.,  Prof,  of  Theology, 
1828-1829 ;  died  1858. 

Rev.  Luther  Halsey,  D.  D.,  LL.D.,  Prof,  of  Theology, 
1829-1836 ;  Prof,  of  Ecclesiastical  History  and  Church  Gov- 
ernment, 1836-1844;  lecturer  on  Practical  Theology,  1872- 
1877;  Prof.  Emeritus,  1877-1880;  died  1880. 

Rev.  John  Williamson  Nevin,  D.  D.,  Prof,  of  Oriental  and 
Biblical  Literature,  1829-1840;  died  1886. 

Rev.  David  Elliott,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Prof,  of  Theology,  1836- 
1854;  Prof,  of  Pastoral  Theology,  1854-1874;  died  1874. 

Rev.  Lewis  Warner  Green,  D.  D.,  Prof,  of  Oriental  and 
Biblical  Literature,  1840-1847 ;  died  1863. 

Rev.  Alexander  Taggart  McGill,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Prof,  of 
Ecclesiastical  History  and  Church  Government,  1842-1854; 
died  1889. 

Rev.  M.  W.  Jacobus,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Prof,  of  Oriental  and 
Biblical  Literature,  1851-1876;  died  1876. 

Rev.  W.  S.  Plummer,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Prof,  of  Theology, 
1854-1862;  died  1880. 

Rev.  S.  J.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Prof,  of  Biblical  and 
Ecclesiastical  Historv,  1854-1883;  died  1883. 

Rev.  W.  M.  Paxton,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Prof,  of  Sacred 
Rhetoric,  1860-1872;  died . 

Rev.  A.  A.  Hodge,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Prof,  of  Theology,  1864- 
1887;  died  1887. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Hornblower,  D.  D.,  Prof,  of  Sacred  Rhetoric, 
1871-1883;  died  1883. 

Rev.  S.  T.  Lowria  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Prof,  of  New  Testament, 
Literature,  1874-1877. 

Rev.  W^.  H.  Jeffers,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Prof,  of  Church  His- 
torv, 1877-1893. 

Rev.  S.  H.  Kellogg,  D.  D.,  Prof,  of  Theology,  1877-1886; 
died  1899. 

[  281  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Rev.  B.  B.  Warfield,  D.  D.,  Prof,  of  New  Testament 
Literature  and  Exegesis,  1878-1886. 

Rev.  R.  D.  Wilson,  Pii.  D.,  D.  D.,  Prof,  of  Hebrew  and 
Old  Testament  Literature,  1884-1900. 

Rev.  H.  T.  McClelland,  D.  D.,  Prof,  of  Theology,  1886- 
1899. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Robinson,  D.  D.,  is  the  much  beloved 
Professor  Emeritus  of  Pastoral  Theology,  Church  Govern- 
ment and  The  Sacraments. 

Rev.  David  Gregg,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  is  the  present  President 
of  the  faculty. 

The  Allegheny  Theological  Seminary  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Church  was  founded  in  the  year  1825.  It  was  in- 
corporated under  the  laws  of  Pennsylvania  in  1830.  The 
financial  interests  of  the  institution  are  administered  by  a 
board  of  nine  trustees,  the  scholastic  by  a  board  of  thirty- 
six  directors,  nine  of  whom  are  chosen  by  each  of  four 
synods  which  share  jointly  in  the  control  of  the  Seminary. 
One  of  the  most  complete  and  commodious  seminary  build- 
ings in  the  country  was  erected  on  North  avenue  in  1899. 
There  are  four  professors  at  the  present  time:  Dr.  James 
A.  Grier,  president,  Drs.  D.  A.  McClenahan,  John  Me- 
Naugher  and  John  A.  Wilson.  One  or  two  additional  pro- 
fessors are  to  be  added  in  the  near  future.  The  greater 
part  of  the  ministers  of  the  denomination  are  educated  in 
this  institution.  There  are  at  the  present  time  fifty-four 
students  in  attendance.  Three  terms  of  eight  months  each 
constitute  the  course  of  study  required  for  graduation. 
Some  students  from  other  denominations  and  other  coun- 
tries are  commonly  in  attendance.  Scholarships  are  offered 
in  connection  with  each  department  of  the  Seminary  course. 

The  following  are  a  few  of  the  more  distinguished 
graduates  of  this  "  School  of  the  Prophets:  "  Wilson 
Blain  (1835),  a  pioneer  missionary  to  Oregon.  Dr.  David 
R.  Kerr  (1837),  long  time  editor  of  the  United  Pfeshyterian, 
and  professor  in  the  Seminary.  Dr.  Alexander  Young 
Q839),  a  man  of  remarkable  culture  and  a  phenomenal  fund 
of  information.  Dr.  Robert  Audley  Browne  (1840),  the 
chivalrous  and  beloved  chaplain  of  the  celebrated  Round- 
head regiment.    Dr.  John  G.  Brown  (1842),  the  founder  of 

[  282  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

the  Western  Pennsylvania  Institution  for  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb.  Dr.  D.  A.  Wallace  (1850),  the  founder  and  first 
President  of  Monmouth  College.  Dr.  W.  J.  Reid  (1858), 
late  editor  of  the  United  Presbyterian.  Dr.  Andrew  Wat- 
son (1859),  missionary  to  Egypt,  and  author  of  a  history 
of  that  successful  mission.  Dr.  Robert  Gracey  Ferguson 
(1862),  for  many  years  the  honored  and  successful  Presi- 
dent of  Westminster  College. 

The  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Church  is  located  on  North  avenue,  Allegheny.  Some  Re- 
formed Presbyterians  or  Covenanters  were  exiled  from 
Scotland  during  the  persecutions  by  the  House  of  Stuart  in 
the  Seventeenth  century.  Many  of  them  afterwards 
migrated  to  America,  and  there  were  Covenanters  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Western  Pennsylvania.  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Black  was  the  first  pastor  of  those  located  in  and  about 
Pittsburgh,  and  was  ordained  December  18,  1800.  He  died 
in  Pittsburgh,  October  25,  1849. 

After  the  denominational  Division  of  1833,  Rev.  Dr. 
Thomas  Sproull  became  pastor  of  the  Old  School  Cove- 
nanter Congregation,  and  was  ordained  in  1833.  He  died 
in  Allegheny,  March  21,  1892. 

The  early  location  of  the  Theological  Seminary  was  in 
Philadelphia  in  the  year  1810,  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Wylie 
being  in  charge.  After  the  Division,  the  Old  School  branch 
created  a  Seminary  for  its  candidates  for  the  ministry. 
Rev.  Dr.  Sproull  was  chosen  a  Professor  of  Theology  in 
Allegheny  in  1838,  resigning  this  position  in  1845.  He  was 
re-elected  in  1856  and  was  in  connection  with  the  Seminary 
from  that  date  till  his  death  in  1892.  He  was  born  in  West- 
moreland county  in  1803,  and  graduated  in  1829  from  the 
Western  University. 

Rev.  Dr.  James  M.  Willson,  long  a  pastor  in  Philadelphia, 
was  chosen  a  Professor  of  Theology  in  1858,  and  died  ir5 
Allegheny,  August  31,  1866.  Rev.  Dr.  James  R.  Sloane  be- 
came a  Professor  in  1868,  being  called  from  a  pastorate  in 
New  York,  where  he  had  been  prominent  as  an  Anti-Slavery 
leader.  He  died  in  Allegheny,  March  6,  1886.  His  oldest 
son  is  Professor  W.  M.  Sloane,  the  historian,  of  Columbia 
University.     Rev.  Dr.  David  B.  Willson,  then  pastor  in 

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THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Allegheny,  was,  in  1875,  chosen  a  Professor  of  Theology, 
and  is  still  in  service  as  the  senior  Professor,  Rev.  Dr. 
John  K.  McClurkin  was  chosen  a  Professor  of  Theology  in 
1887.  He  resigned  in  1891,  and  is  now  pastor  of  the  Shady- 
side  United  Presbyterian  congregation.  Rev.  Dr.  Robert 
J.  George,  long  a  pastor  at  Beaver  Falls,  Pa.,  was  elected 
a  Professor  of  Theology  in  1892,  and  is  still  in  this  position. 
Among  the  graduates  of  this  Allegheny  institution  may 
be  named :  Rev.  Dr.  W.  P.  Johnston,  president  of  Geneva 
CoHege,  Beaver  Falls,  Pa.,  class  of  1862.  Rev.  Dr.  David 
McAllister,  pastor  of  the  Eighth  street  church  in  this  city, 
class  of  1863.  Rev.  Dr.  J.  W.  Sproull,  pastor  of  the  Central 
church,  Allegheny,  class  of  1863.  Prof.  James  R.  Newell, 
the  founder  of  the  Newell  Institute  of  this  city,  class  of 
;l  866.  Rev.  Dr.  David  Gregg,  now  President  of  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary,  Allegheny,  and  formerly  pastor  in 
Brooklyn,  class  of  1869.  Rev.  Samuel  R.  Galbraith,  a  for- 
eign missionary,  who  died  at  Beirut,  Syria,  in  1872.  Rev. 
Dr.  Daniel  C.  Martin,  now  pastor  of  the  Highland  avenue 
Reformed  Presbyterian  congregation.  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Lynd,  now  Professor  of  Theology  in  the  Reformed  Presby- 
terian Seminary,  Belfast,  class  of  1873.  Rev.  Henry  Eas- 
son,  long  a  missionary  in  Syria,  was  sent  out  in  1873,  not 
completing  the  course.  He  is  retired,  residing  at  Beaver 
Falls.  Among  the  gradutes  since  that  date,  we  may  name : 
Rev.  Dr.  R.  C.  Wylie,  pastor  at  Wilkinsburgh,  treasurer  of 
the  National  Reform  Association.  Prof.  George  Kennedy, 
of  Geneva  College,  class  of  1878.  Rev.  Dr.  W.  J.  Coleman, 
a  pastor  in  Allegheny,  class  of  1879.  Rev.  W.  W. 
Carothers,  missionary  in  the  Indian  Territory,  class  of 
1883  Rev.  Dr.  John  F.  Carson,  a  pastor  in  Brooklyn,  class 
of  1885.  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  W.  Temple,  professor  in  Wash- 
ington and  Jefferson  College,  class  of  1887.  Rev.  James  S. 
Stewart,  a  missionary  to  Syria,  class  of  1888.  Rev.  R.  J. 
Dodds,  a  missionary  in  Asia  Minor,  class  of  1890.  Rev. 
J.  B.  Dodds,  formerly  a  missionary  in  Syria,  now  a  pastor 
in  Kansas.  Rev.  A.  I.  Robb,  a  missionary  to  China,  class 
of  1894.  Rev.  J.  K.  Robb,  a  missionary  to  China,  class  of 
1899.  Rev.  J.  A.  Kempf,  a  missionarj^  to  China,  class  of 
1903. 

[  284  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

Prominent  among  the  schools  for  girls  was  the  Pitts- 
burgh Female  College,  incorporated  in  February,  1854. 
This  was  a  sectarian  institution  under  the  control  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  prominent  as  a  school 
for  about  fifty  years. 

The  Bishop  Bowman  Institute  was  established  by  the 
Rector  of  St.  Peter's  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Van  Dusen,  in  1862,  and  for  many  years  was  a  large  and 
flourishing  school  under  the  charge  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Coster, 
but  it,  too,  has  been  superseded  by  other  preparatory 
schools  within  the  last  five  years. 

In  1869  the  Pennsylvania  Female  College  was  established 
by  the  leading  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Shadyside.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Beatty,  Mr.  David  Aiken  and  Mr. 
John  A.  Renshaw  were  the  prime  movers.  A  beautiful 
situation  was  purchased  for  this  school,  thirty  thousand 
dollars  raised  and  a  suitable  building  erected.  The  school 
was  essentially  Presbyterian  and  had  great  support  from 
the  Presbyterian  churches  and  members  of  the  community. 
Miss  Helen  Pelletreau  served  for  years  as  president  of  the 
college.  She  did  a  great  deal  to  build  up  the  school,  and 
the  warm  affection  of  many  women  of  Pittsburgh  to-day  is 
extended  to  her,  because  of  her  unselfish  endeavor  in  their 
behalf  in  the  Pennsylvania  College  for  Women  as  it  came 
to  be  known.  Miss  Pelletreau  was  succeeded  by  Miss  Jane 
Devore,  who  left  no  stone  unturned  to  raise  the  general 
standard  of  the  school  to  meet  the  demand  of  its  name, 
college.  She,  however,  served  only  a  few  years,  and  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Martin.  Very  lately  the 
school  has  been  relieved  of  all  further  financial  embarrass- 
ment by  the  raising  of  three  hundred  thousand  dollars  to 
pay  off  the  mortgage  and  to  create  an  endowment  fund. 
The  credit  of  this  is  due  to  Mr.  Oliver  McClintock  and  Mr. 
William  Rea,  Rev.  J.  K.  McClurkin,  D.  D.,  and  Mrs.  Charles 
H.  Spencer. 

A  characteristic  institution,  and  one  very  essential  in  such 
a  community  as  this,  was  the  one  established  by  Peter  Duff, 
in  1840,  called  ''  Duff's  Mercantile  College,"  where  pen- 
manship, bookkeeping,  mathematics,  commercial  science  and 
commercial  law,  typewriting  and  stenography  were  taught. 
This  useful  institution  continues  to  this  day. 

[  285  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

In  1855  the  Iron  City  Commercial  College  was  incor- 
porated by  one  Mr.  Miller  and  his  brother.  It  has  carried 
on,  down  to  the  present  time,  those  branches  of  learning 
which  go  to  make  a  successful  commercial  college. 

A  Normal  Training  School  for  Teachers,  known  as  Curry 
University,  was  founded  in  1869.  Previous  to  this,  in  1855, 
Professor  Curry  had,  in  association  with  B.  M.  Kerr,  con- 
ducted several  small  normal  schools  in  the  country. 

Charles  Avery  accomplished  the  founding  of  a  training 
school  for  colored  children  in  1849.  This  school,  from  a 
small  beginning,  has  continued  to  grow  slowly,  and  to 
furnish  that  manual  training  to  the  colored  youth  of  the 
city  which  has  not  been  offered  by  the  general  public 
schools. 

The  Pittsburgh  School  of  Desig-n  for  Women  was  opened 
in  February,  1865,  in  the  Phelan  Building,  24  Fifth  street. 
The  object  of  the  school,  as  announced  in  the  newspapers  of 
the  day,  was  ' '  the  systematic  training  of  young  ladies  in  the 
practice  of  art  and  in  the  knowledge  of  its  scientific  prin- 
ciples with  the  view  of  qualifying  them  to  impart  to  others 
a  careful  art  education. ' '  The  fee  for  the  Elementary  Class 
was  ten  dollars ;  the  Exceptional  Class,  twenty-five  dollars ; 
Landscape  Class,  in  oil,  twenty-five  dollars;  Figure  Class, 
in  oil,  twenty-five  dollars.  The  original  faculty  was  com- 
posed of  Mary  G.  Grieg,  Head  Teacher ;  P.  W.  Broadwood, 
Margaret  D.  Cowley,  Trevor  M'Clurg,  George  Hatzell,  Dr. 
James  King,  Lecturer  on  Artistic  Anatomy,  and  Dr.  W.  C. 
Reiter,  Lecturer  on  the  General  Principles  of  Natural 
Science  and  Elementary  Botany.  The  school  has  been  con- 
ducted throughout  its  entire  existence  along  these  lines  and 
has  continued  to  progress  and  holds  to-day  a  prominent 
position  in  the  community. 

The  Art  Students'  League  of  to-day,  with  its  numerous 
classes  and  large  attendance,  is  also  filling  a  certain  need  in 
the  community. 

The  author  of  this  volume,  from  1869  until  1890,  was  the 
head  of  a  girls'  school  that  still  makes  many  of  the  women 
of  Pittsburgh  dear  to  her  as  remembered  pupils. 

The  preparatory  schools  of  Pittsburgh  are  now  numerous, 
and  the  present  ideal  facilities  permit  a  thoroughness  that 

[  286  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

was  unknown  even  twenty  years  ago.  The  most  important 
are  the  Allegheny  Preparatory  School,  the  Park  Institute, 
the  Shadyside  Academy,  the  Alinda  School,  the  Thurston 
Preparatory  School,  the  East  Liberty  Academy,  and  the 
Pittsburgh  Academy.  To  many  of  these  preparatory 
schools  the  eastern  colleges  send  examiners  for  college 
entrance  examinations. 

The  Old  Academy. 

The  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  on  the  twenty-eighth  of 
February,  1787,  passed  an  act  to  establish  an  "  Academy 
or  Public  School, ' '  in  the  town  of  Pittsburgh ;  declaring  that 
the  education  of  youth  ought  to  be  the  primary  object  with 
every  government.  And  as  any  ' '  school  or  college  yet  estab- 
lished is  greatly  distant  from  the  country  west  of  the  Alle- 
gheny mountains,  whereas  the  town  of  Pittsburgh  is  most 
central  to  that  settlement  and  accommodation  for  students 
can  be  most  conveniently  obtained  in  that  town. ' '  Accord- 
ingly it  was  enacted  "  that  there  be  erected  in  Pittsburgh, 
in  the  county  of  Westmoreland  an  academy  or  school  for  the 
education  of  the  youth  in  the  useful  arts,  sciences  and 
literature,  the  style,  name  and  title  of  Avhich  shall  be  the 
Pittsburgh  Academy.  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the 
authority  aforesaid  that  the  following  persons,  namely,  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Barr,  Rev.  James  Findley,  Rev.  James  Powers, 
Rev.  John  McMillan,  Rev.  Jos.  Smith  and  the  Rev.  Matthew 
Henderson;  General  John  Gibson,  Colonels  Presley 
Neville,  William  Butler,  Stephen  Bayard;  James  Ross, 
David  Bradford,  Robert  Galbraith,  George  Thompson, 
George  Walker,  Edward  Cook,  John  Moore,  William 
Todd,  Alex.  Fowler,  Esqs.,  Drs.  Nathaniel  Bedford  and 
Thos.  Parker  shall  be  the  Trustees  of  the  said  School." 

And  it  was  further  enacted  that  the  board  of  trustees 
shall  consist  of  twenty-one  members,  seven  of  whom  shall 
be  a  "  board  or  quorum,  having  all  the  powers  to  manage 
the  concerns  of  such  a  corporation,"  and  *'  persons  of  every 
denomination  of  Christians  shall  be  capable  of  being  elected 
Trustees. 

'  *  Signed  by  Order  of  the  House, 

'^  Thomas  Mifflin,  Speaker.'* 

[  287  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

This  beneficent  institution  and  the  patronage  therefor 
were  obtained  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  Judge  H.  H. 
Brackenridge.  The  Legislature,  in  addition,  granted  for  its 
use  or  revenue,  five  thousand  acres  of  unseated  lands  west  of 
the  Allegheny  and  Ohio  rivers.  Judge  Brackenridge  also 
secured  for  the  academy  a  square,  in  what  was  then  known 
as  ''  Ewaltsfield,"  from  John  Penn  and  John  Penn,  Jr. 
This  square  was  the  land  now  bounded  by  Second  and 
Third  avenues,  Cherry  alley  and  Smithfield  street.  Several 
newspaper  notices  are  extant  which  request  the  trustees  to 
meet  at  the  house  of  Mr.  David  Duncan.  The  first  of  these 
is  dated  February  21st,  and  appears  in  the  Gazette  of 
March  first,  1788,  a  year  after  the  charter  was  granted.  Un- 
til this  time  the  meetings  had  evidently  been  few  and  far  be- 
tween, and  the  fact  that  these  notices  bore  no  signature  of  a 
secretary  until  months  later,  is  significant  of  the  difficulties 
met  with  in  the  organization  of  the  board  and  in  rendering 
available  the  land  revenue  granted  by  the  State.  However, 
progress  was  made;  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year, 
Robert  Galbraith  acted  as  the  first  secretary  to  the  trustees, 
and  it  was  shortly  after  the  second  annual  meeting  of  the 
board  of  trustees,  which  was  held  at  Mr.  Galbraith 's  house, 
on  the  18th  day  of  March,  1789,  that  there  is  record  of  the 
engagement  of  George  Welch  as  principal,  ^'  and  that  he 
will  soon  commence  his  instructions  at  Pittsburgh,  on  Mon- 
day the  13th  of  April,  instant."  Mr.  Galbraith  also  added 
to  this  announcement  that  "  those  who  may  wish  to  have 
their  children  instructed  in  the  learned  languages,  English 
and  the  Mathematicks  are  invited  to  improve  the  present 
opportunity. ' ' 

When  the  lack  of  interest  in  this  educational  movement  is 
weighed,  and  the  difficulties  in  obtaining  sufficient  funds 
from  the  State  grant  to  provide  a  suitable  building  are 
considered,  great  credit  will  be  found  due  to  the  first  board 
of  trustees  for  accomplishing  the  task  of  establishing  the 
Academy  in  so  short  a  time. 

The  academy  during  the  next  few  years  had  various  prin- 
cipals. The  Rev.  Dr.  McMillan  for  a  short  time.  Rev 
Robert  Patterson,  both  prominent  Presbyterian  clergymen, 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Taylor,  pastor  of  the  Old  Round  Church, 

[  288  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

whose  successor,  in  1801,  was  Rev.  Mr.  Steele,  another  Pres- 
byterian. A  notice  which  appeared  in  the  Gazette,  January, 
1801,  sums  up  the  educational  situation  in  Pittsburgh  with 
regard  to  the  academy  at  that  time: 

''  The  present  establishment  and  future  prospects  of 
more  extensive  usefulness  of  the  Pittsburgh  Academy,  so 
well  situated  for  the  benefit  of  the  general  western  country, 
must  be  highly  pleasing  to  all  who  feel  the  value  of  the 
education  of  youth. 

'*  The  Trustees,  anxiously  disposed  to  promote  the 
growth,  prosperity  and  usefulness  of  the  Academy,  have 
engaged  two  masters  (one  of  them  a  respectable  clergy- 
man) of  education,  character,  skill  and  experience,  who 
teach  the  Greek  and  Latin  languages,  mathematics,  reading 
and  writing. 

' '  They  have  also  appointed  three  inspectors  to  have  a  su- 
perintendence of  the  school,  and  take  care  of  the  tuition 
money  to  be  collected  and  paid  to  the  treasurer.  The 
amount  of  the  tuition  money  is  incompetent  to  pay  the 
salaries  of  the  Masters,  and  for  this  purpose,  besides  the 
aid  of  the  interest  on  money  lent  on  security,  occasional 
advances  are  necessary. 

' '  Those  who  send  scholars  to  the  Academy  are  especially 
admonished  of  the  necessity  of  regular  quarterly  payments. 
Bills  of  the  tuition  money  then  due  will  be  sent  out  to  each, 
by  the  Principal,  or  First  Master,  of  the  School,  on  the  1st 
of  January,  April,  July  and  October,  and  it  is  expected  that 
inmiediate  payment  will  then  be  made  to  the  Treasurer. 

"  It  is  proper  to  remark,  for  the  information  of  those  who 
live  at  a  distance,  who  may  wish  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
benefits  of  this  institution,  that,  from  the  present  moderate 
prices  in  the  Pittsburgh  market,  boarding  is  considerably 
reduced  below  the  high  rates  which  the  former  market 
prices  rendered  necessary.  There  are  now  in  this  Borough 
more  or  better  chances  for  good  and  cheap  boarding,  than 
can  be  found  elsewhere.    January,  1801." 

Colonel  Presley  Neville,  then  acting  as  secretary,  called 
a  special  meeting  of  the  trustees  on  August  nineteenth, 
1801,  to  take  into  consideration  the  propriety  of  engaging  a 
writing  master. 

19  [  289  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

In  the  early  summer  of  1803  the  trustees  of  the  Academ\^ 
had  the  singular  good  fortune  to  engage  a  Mr.  Hopkins, 
who  had  already  taught  in  the  College  of  Princeton,  to  take 
direction  of  the  Academy.  The  notice  further  elaborates 
that  from  the  ^ '  correctness  of  Mr.  Hopkins '  education,  and 
from  his  habits  of  teaching  acquired  in  one  of  the  first 
schools  of  the  Continent,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe 
that  parents  who  may  send  their  children  to  this  Seminary 
for  instruction  will  not  be  disappointed.  The  school  will 
open  on  the  first  day  of  July;  the  Latin  and  Greek  lan- 
guages only  will  be  taught  for  the  present.  Such  scholars 
as  are  to  attend  had  better  be  punctual  on  that  day,  as  Mr. 
Hopkins  will  be  the  better  enabled  to  arrange  the 
classes." 

This  was  but  the  beginning  of  Mr.  Hopkins'  long  and  ben- 
eficial career  in  Pittsburgh.  In  August,  Colonel  Neville 
called  a  special  meeting  at  Mr.  Ferree's  tavern  ''  for  the 
purpose  of  making  some  arrangement  of  the  funds  of  the 
institution  providing  for  the  payment  of  some  expenses,  and 
taking  into  consideration  the  propriety  of  making  an  addi- 
tion to  the  building."  The  Academy  under  the  supervision 
of  Mr.  Hopkins  progressed  with  such  rapidity  that  in  the 
course  of  the  following  spring  the  pupils  gave  an  exhibition. 
The  newspaper  gives  rather  a  glowing  account: 

'^  Last  week  the  students  of  the  Pittsburgh  Academy 
underwent  examination  in  the  presence  of  the  Trustees; 
and,  on  Friday  evening,  at  the  Court  House,  they  delivered 
orations,  and  had  dramatic  performance  embracing  a  great 
variety  of  characters ;  and  spoke  several  dialogues  on  dif- 
ferent subjects. 

''  This  is  the  first  public  performance  of  our  young 
students.  There  was  a  crowded  audience,  and  the  most 
lively  interest  was  visible  in  their  relatives  and  acquaint- 
ances who  attended.  The  exhibition  far  exceeded  expecta- 
tions. Many  of  the  boys  were  not  more  than  12  years  of 
age,  some  under  10;  all,  however,  appeared  to  possess  a 
correct  idea  of  the  parts  assigned  to  them;  their  gestures 
gave  appropriate  effect  to  the  sense;  their  pronunciation, 
manners  and  deportment  were  highly  commended. 

''  In  the  course  of  the  evening,  different  and  opposite 

[  290  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

characters  were  well  sustained  by  the  same  persons,  who 
judiciously  assumed  and  displayed  the  spirit  of  the  passions 
they  were  called  to  represent.  In  no  instance  did  careless- 
ness or  dismay  prevent  the  complete  execution  of  the  duty 
allotted  to  the  speakers. 

' '  The  whole  scene  gave  most  pleasing  proof  of  the  value 
of  Mr.  Hopkins  in  this  institution.  His  instructions  extend, 
not  only  to  the  useful,  but  to  the  ornamental  articles  of 
education. 

"Witnessing,  as  we  have,  the  successful  efforts  of  Mr.  Hop- 
kins to  inspire  his  scholars  with  a  noble  emulation  to  excel, 
we  cannot  refrain  from  expressing  the  wish  that  the  Trus- 
tees would  provide  scenery  and  conditions  more  suitable  for 
the  encouragement  of  the  career  that  has  begun.  From 
their  liberality,  we  flatter  ourselves  that  there  will  be  a 
continuance  of  these  exercises  which  have  so  happy  a 
tendency  to  stimulate  exertion,  to  call  forth  latent  genius 
and  to  polish  the  manners  of  those  engaged  in  the  acquisi- 
tion of  liberal  learning.     April  twenty-seventh,  1804." 

Mr.  Hopkins,  meantime,  having  studied  law,  gave  over  the 
charge  of  the  Pittsburgh  Academy,  in  1809,  to  Rev.  Joseph 
Stockton,  who  became  principal,  and  was  presently  assisted 
by  Mr.  Robert  Bruce.  The  hands  of  these  excellent 
gentlemen  were  always  upheld  by  a  board  of  vigilant 
inspectors. 

In  1811  the  trustees  were  short-sighted  enough  to  let  slip 
from  their  hold  some  very  valuable  property.  This  is  of 
course  said  without  reproach,  as  the  needs  of  the  day  were 
paramount.  Their  offer  appeared  in  the  Gazette  of  April 
eighteenth,  1811: 

"  The  Trustees  of  the  Pittsburgh  Academy,  offer  on  per- 
petual ground  rent,  two  hundred  and  forty  feet  front  on 
Second  street,  extending  from  Smithfield  and  Cherry  alley, 
and  ninety  feet  front  on  Smithfield  extending  from  Third 
street  to  a  ten-foot  alley.  A  plan  of  the  lots,  and  the  terms 
are  left  with  James  Morrison  in  Wood  street. 

"  John  Woods, 
"  John  Wilkins, 
**  Isaac  Craig, 

"  Managers/' 
[  291  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

Despite  financial  difficulties  and  the  inevitable  inertia, 
bound  to  prevail,  at  times,  in  so  small  a  place,  regarding 
educational  matters,  the  curriculum  of  1817  included  in 
addition  to  the  elementary  branches  and  higher  mathe- 
matics, Hebrew,  Greek,  Latin  and  French,  Indeed,  so  far 
had  the  Academy  prospered,  that  the  Legislature  was  peti- 
tioned "  by  a  respectable  number  of  the  inhabitants,"  and 
by  the  trustees  of  the  Pittsburgh  Academy,  in  a  memorial 
representing  that  institution,  "  though  in  a  respectable 
state  of  improvement  as  inadequate  to  the  accommodation 
and  complete  education  of  the  students  at  present  attending 
that  Seminary  and  have  expressed  their  desire  that  an 
University  should  be  established  in  their  vicinity;  and  that: 
the  funds  of  the  Academy  may  be  transferred  for  the  use  oi 
such  University." 

The  boys  names  on  the  list  of  the  old  Academy  fromi 
1789-1820,  though  it  is  not  a  complete  one,  is  keenly  inter- 
esting, for  they  became,  almost  without  exception,  men  of [ 
eminent  benefit  to  the  community : 

Presley  Neville,  "William  Robinson,  William  Wilkins,, 
James  M.  Vunlan,  Edward  J.  Roberts,  Samuel  Roberts,, 
William  O'Hara,  George  Ross,  Steele  Semple,  Neville  B., 
Craig,  James  W.  Biddle,  John  Willock,  George  Wallace,, 
Charles  Wallace,  John  S.  Riddle,  John  F.  Wrenshall,  Johm 
P.  Bakewell,  Harry  Stevenson,  Wilson  Darragh,  John  De- 
clary,  D.  Stockton,  D.  R.  McNair, Scull,  Joseph  P.', 

Gazzam,  Charles  Wilkins,  Morgan  Neville,  H.  M.  Bracken- 
ridge,   Ross   Wilkins,   John   S.   Irwin,   John   McClintocky, 

George  Shiras,   George  Sutton,  William  Kerr, 

Adams,  James  R.  Butler,  William  Addison,  Fred  Ernest^j 
Samuel  Johnson,  Reese  Jones,  Jr.,  William  McClurg,  Alex- 
ander McCandless, Magee,  Bedford  Mowrey,  Horatiss 

,  — Boggs,  Andley  Gazzam,  Thomas  Bairdjlj 

Samuel  Jones,  William  F.  Irwin,  Millen  Gregg,  Williamcj 
Church,  Thomas  Collins,  Robert  Watson,  Harmer  Denny,^ 
William  Denny,  Butler  Barker,  John  R,  Davis,  Charlesi 
Ernest,  Benjamin  Evans,  George  Holdship,  James  RI 
Lambdin,  Michael  Stackhouse,  Henry  Stephenson,  Frank! 
Stevenson,  Sidney  Mountain,  George  Watson,  James  Willsj 
George  Bayard,  Casper  Brunot,  James  Brunot,  Duncan 
Walker,  R.  J.  Walker. 

[  292  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 


The  Western  University. 


On  February  eighteenth,  1819,  Governor  William  Finley 
signed  the  charter  of  "  The  Western  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania "  to  be  established  near  the  town  of  Allegheny ;  to 
be  under  the  direction  of  twenty-six  trustees.  They  were 
James  Ross,  George  Stevenson,  Francis  Herron,  Joseph 
Stockton,  Robert  Bruce,  John  Black,  John  Scull,  John  M. 
Snowden,  William  Wilkins,  George  Evans,  Morgan  Neville, 
Henry  Baldwin,  George  Poe,  Jr.,  Walter  Forward,  John 
Darrah,  Samuel  Roberts,  Ebenezer  Denny,  Peter  Mowry, 
of  the  city  of  Pittsburgh;  William  Robinson,  Jr.,  of  the 
town  of  Allegheny ;  John  McPherron,  John  Gilmore,  of  But- 
ler county ;  John  Young,  James  Postlewaith,  John  Reed,  of 
Westmoreland  county;  Robert  Moore  and  James  Allison, 
of  Beaver  county. 

And  it  was  further  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  afore- 
said ' '  that  forty  acres  of  the  vacant  lands  belonging  to  the 
commonwealth  bounded  by  or  joining  the  outer  lots  of  the 
town  of  Allegheny,  be  and  they  are  hereby  granted  to  the 
trustees  of  the  Western  University  of  Pennsylvania  upon 
which  the  University  shall  be  erected. ' ' 

But  the  land  designated  was  used  by  the  citizens  of  Alle- 
gheny for  pasturing  their  cows,  and  they  vigorously  op- 
posed the  gift;  and,  after  a  delay  of  seven  years,  the  Su- 
preme Court,  in  1826,  handed  down  a  verdict  denying  the 
land  to  the  University.  Thereupon,  the  Legislature  appro- 
priated twenty-four  hundred  dollars  annually,  for  the  en- 
suing five  years,  to  the  institution.  With  this,  and  twelve 
thousand  dollars  received  from  the  State,  the  first  Uni- 
versity building  was  completed  in  1830,  on  the  corner  of 
Third  avenue  and  Cherry  alley. 

Meantime,  in  the  spring  of  1820,  the  buildings  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Academy  were  repaired  and  given  over  to  the 
new  University,  and  arrangements  were  made  with  the  Rev. 
Robert  Bruce  and  Rev.  John  Black  '^  for  teaching  Hebrew, 
Greek,  Latin,  the  several  branches  of  mathematics;  geog- 
raphy, ancient  and  modem,  including  the  use  of  globes; 
Belles-Lettres,  Logic,  and  Natural  and  Moral  Philosophy." 

The  first  faculty  of  the  Western  University  was  not  in- 

[  293  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

stalled  until  May  tenth,  1822.  The  first  principal  was  Rev. 
Robert  Bruce,  assisted  by  Professors  John  Black,  Elisha  P. 
Swift,  Joseph  MoElroy,  and  C.  B.  Mai^niire,  all  of  them 
ministers  earing  for  various  congregations.  Dr.  Bruce 
continued  to  be  the  principal  until  1842,  with  the  intermis- 
sion of  the  year  1835,  during  which  Rev.  Gilbert  Morgan 
officiated.  When  Dr.  Bruce  retired,  having  served  the  com- 
munity faithfully  and  honorably  in  the  high  capacity  of  the 
inspirer  and  trainer  of  its  youth,  the  Rev.  Herman  Dyer 
became  principal,  and  the  University  was  reorganized.  In 
addition  to  the  English  and  Classical  Preparatory  School, 
and  the  usual  collegiate  department,  a  law  school  was  now 
added  and  Hon.  Walter  H.  Lowrie  appointed  professor; 
the  trustees  endeavoring  to  make  it  an  actual  University, 
and  an  institution  of  benefit  to  the  whole  western  country. 

In  1845  occurred  Pittsburgh's  calamitous  fire,  in  which 
the  University  building,  so  highly  prized  by  the  citizens  as 
an  ornament,  was  consumed.  This,  of  course,  was  dis- 
astrous as  even  the  records  perished  with  it,  but  the  trustees 
met  this  with  the  same  brave  implacableness  that  was  the 
marked  characteristic  of  the  spirit  governing  the  town  at 
that  time.  The  property  on  Third  street  was  disposed  of, 
and  a  site  purchased  on  Duquesne  Way,  which  was  dedi- 
cated September  eighth,  1846.  During  the  interim,  the  work 
of  the  University  was  not  suspended,  but  great  complacence 
was  felt  on  taking  possession  of  the  capacious  new  building. 
The  faculty  at  that  time  consisted  of: 

Rev.  Herman  Dyer,  D.  D.,  Principal  and  Professor  of 
Moral  and  Intellectual  Philosophy. 

Lemuel  Stevens,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Mathematics, 
Natural  Philosophy  and  Chemistry. 

James  Thompson,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Ancient  Lan- 
guages. 

Vacant  —  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  Belles  Lettres. 

Hon.  Walter  H.  Lowrie,  Professor  of  Law. 

James  R.  Lambdin,  Esq.,  Professor  of  the  Arts  of  Design. 

Albert  Eggars,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Modern  Languages. 

Assisted  by  a  Committee  on  Education,  acting  as  Counsel 
to  the  Faculty,  and  charged  with  the  public  examination 
of  students. 

[  294  ] 


I     t 


ii  '^ 


It  I* 


THE    SCHOOLS 

Rev,  George  Upfold,  D.  D.,  Ex-officio  Chairman. 

Rev.  David  H.  Kiddle,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Andrew  W.  Black. 

Rev.  William  Preston. 

Hon.  Harmar  Denny. 

The  pleasure,  however,  in  the  new  building  was  short 
lived,  for  it,  too,  was  burned  in  1849.  This  was  indeed  a 
disaster,  as  the  trustees,  discouraged,  dismissed  the  faculty 
and  students,  and  the  days  for  the  University  were  dark.  The 
property  on  Duquesne  Way  was  sold  which,  with  the  insur- 
ance money,  amounted  to  about  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  In 
1854,  a  lot  on  the  corner  of  Ross  and  Diamond  streets  was 
procured  and  the  third  W^estern  University  built.  This  was 
due  mainly  to  the  efforts  of  Mr.  John  Harper,  then  treas- 
urer of  the  board  of  trustees.  The  building  consisted  of 
fourteen  recitation  rooms,  as  well  as  a  laboratory  and 
library.  In  1855,  on  the  completion  of  the  building.  Dr. 
J.  F.  McClaren  was  made  president.  The  entire  income  of 
the  University  was,  at  this  time,  from  the  tuition  fees, 
which,  in  the  preparatory  classes,  were  eighteen  dollars  per 
term,  and  in  the  scientific  and  collegiate,  twenty-five  dollars, 
with  French  and  drawing  as  extras. 

The  financial  difficulties  were  harassing,  and,  when,  in 
1858,  Dr.  George  Woods  succeeded  Dr.  McClaren,  he  in- 
sisted that  an  endowment  was  necessary  and  could  be  pro- 
cured. Mr.  William  Thaw  met  this  necessity  by  subscribing 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  on  condition  that  the  cities  of 
Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny  should  give  a  like  sum.  The 
municipalities  made  good  their  share,  and  the  University 
was  at  last  equipped  with  an  endowment.  But  the  number 
of  graduates  during  these  years  was  pitiably  small.  Be- 
tween 1855-1864  there  were  only  three,  after  that  there  was 
a  small  number  each  year.  But  in  the  memorable  years 
between  *  *  61  and  65, ' '  the  big  boys  had  no  time  for  school ; 
they  were  either  doing  men's  work  at  the  front  or  taking 
their  places  at  home.  In  accordance  with  the  spirit  of  the 
times,  a  military  drill  was  instituted,  and  continued  for 
years.  This  was  at  first  conducted  by  an  officer  of  the  Regu- 
lar Army,  detailed  by  the  government.  In  1863,  the  Scien- 
tific school  was  founded,  from  which  a  Bachelor  degree 

[  295  ] 


THE   HISTOEY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

could  be  obtained.  In  1866,  the  managers  of  the  Alle- 
gheny Observatory  decided  to  transfer  its  property  to 
the  Western  University,  consisting  of  ten  acres  of  land, 
a  large  new  dwelling  house,  the  Observatory  edifice,  to- 
gether with  the  fourteen-inch  object  glass  telescope,  the 
third  instrument  of  its  kind  in  the  country.  The  sole  con- 
dition of  this  transfer  being  thirty  thousand  dollars  with 
which  to  endow  a  chair  of  Astronomy  in  the  University. 
Again  Mr.  Thaw  came  forward  with  the  necessary  money. 

The  catalogue  for  the  year  ending  June,  1866,  announced 
the  number  of  students  to  be  two  hundred  and  sixty-six; 
Collegiate,  twenty-seven;  Scientific,  fourteen;  Preparatory 
Classical,  eighty-five;  Preparatory  English,  one  hundred 
and  thirty-one,  and  Commercial,  nine.  In  1875  Mr.  Charles 
Avery  bequeathed  to  the  University  the  sum  of  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars,  and  Mr.  Thaw  endowed  the  chair  of 
Chemistry.      The  University  now  prospered. 

For  twenty-one  years  Dr.  Woods  administered  the  affairs 
of  the  University,  from  the  dark  days  of  "  58  "  to  the 
security  of  ' '  79, "  when  he  retired,  and  in  1880,  Dr.  Henry 
M.  McCracken  was  appointed  to  succeed  him. 

In  1882  the  Court  House  on  Grant  street  was  burned,  and 
the  county  purchased  the  University  building  for  temporary 
use.  The  University  took  quarters  in  the  United  Presby- 
terian and  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Seminary,  in  Alle- 
gheny, until  they  should  have  their  own  home  again  on  the 
land  donated  by  the  Allegheny  Observatory.  Dr.  M.  B. 
Goff  succeeded  Dr.  McCracken,  in  1884,  and  meantime  the 
building  of  the  new  University  was  in  progress.  Mr.  Thaw 
bequeathed  another  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  in 
1890,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Goff,  Dr.  William  J.  Holland  was 
appointed  to  succeed  him  as  Chancellor  in  1891  and  served 
until  1901.  Dr.  Holland  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Brashear, 
who  consented  to  serve  only  temporarily.  He  held  the 
office  from  1902  to  1905,  and  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Mc- 
Cormick,  under  whose  guidance  the  University  will  un- 
doubtedly grow. 

The  School  of  Mines  and  Mining  Engineering  was  added 
to  the  University  in  1895.  The  control  of  this  school, 
according  to  an  Act  of  Legislature,  was  vested  in  the  trus- 

[  296  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

tees  and  faculty  of  the  Western  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  Governor,  the  Secretary  of  Internal  Affairs  and 
the  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction.  Professor 
Reginald  A.  Fessenden  has  been  a  great  factor  in  the  build- 
ing up  of  the  popularity  of  this  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity. 

The  union  between  the  "Western  University  and  the  West- 
ern Pennsylvania  Medical  College  was  consummated  on  the 
first  of  June,  1892.  The  Western  Pennsylvania  Medical 
College  had  been  a  stock  corporation  consisting  of  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  shares  of  stock,  at  the  par  value  of  one 
hundred  dollars  each,  and  the  stockholders  were :  J.  Chris. 
Lange,  William  Wallace,  J.  A.  Lippincott,  James  McCann, 
James  B.  Murdoch,  J.  D.  Thomas,  C.  Emmerling,  E.  A. 
Wood,  Thomas  D.  Davis,  William  J.  Asdale,  Whitmore 
Snively,  R.  S.  Sutton,  W.  H.  Daly,  T.  J.  Gallagher,  James 
G.  Connell,  Samuel  Ayers,  J.  C.  Dunn,  C.  B.  King,  Hugo 
Blanck.  According  to  the  terms  of  the  union,  however,  the 
University  was  compelled  to  acquire  the  ownership  of  the 
stock.  The  Medical  College  as  a  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity, in  conjunction  with  the  Reineman  Hospital  and  the 
Kaufman  Clinic,  has  extended  its  usefulness. 

The  Pittsburgh  Law  School  became  a  department  of  the 
Western  University  on  the  third  of  October,  1895.  Judge 
John  D.  Shaf  er  was  Dean ;  Hon.  Samuel  S.  Mehard,  Thomas 
Harriott,  William  H.  McClurg,  Clarence  Burleigh  and 
Thomas  Patterson,  instructors.  James  C.  Gray  and  Wil- 
liam W.  Smith,  lecturers. 

The  Pittsburgh  College  of  Pharmacy  became  affiliated 
with  the  University  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  April,  1896,  and 
the  Pittsburgh  Dental  College,  which  was  incorporated  on 
the  twenty-ninth  day  of  April,  1874,  became  a  part  of  the 
University  on  April  sixteenth,  1896. 

Allegheny  Observatory. 

The  story  of  the  Allegheny  Observatory  is  full  of  interest 
from  the  work  that  has  been  done  there,  but  when  told  by 
Dr.  John  A.  Brashear  it  becomes  peculiarly  dear  to  all 
Pittsburghers,  for  there  is  no  man  in  the  community  so 

[  297  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

deeply  loved  and  respected  as  this  man.  No  one  has  done 
more  for  the  uplifting  of  the  ideals  of  Pittsburgh  than  John 
A.  Brashear,  because  he  has  lived  his  theories : 

"  On  the  evening  of  February  15,  1859,  three  citizens  of 
this  city  and  Pittsburgh  met  at  the  office  of  Professor  Brad- 
ley to  consider  the  purchase  of  the  telescope,  '  the  magnify- 
ing power  of  which  would  bring  the  heavenly  bodies  near 
enough  to  be  viewed  with  greater  interest  and  satisfaction. ' 
These  three  citizens  were  Professor  Lewis  Bradley,  Josiah 
King  and  Harvey  Childs.  After  some  conversation  upon 
the  subject  it  was  decided  to  request  other  gentlemen  to 
meet  with  them.  The  next  meeting  was  held  on  the  even- 
ing of  Washington's  Birthday,  February  22,  1859.  At  this 
meeting,  '  after  further  conversation,  it  was  proposed  to 
place  the  telescope  upon  a  housetop  in  the  central  part  of 
Allegheny.'  (So  far  as  can  be  learned  the  house  selected 
was  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Park  way,  then  called  Water 
street  as  it  was  nearest  the  canal,  and  Federal  street.) 
However,  at  a  subsequent  meeting,  it  was  decided  to  aban- 
don the  idea  of  placing  it  upon  a  housetop  in  the  center  of 
the  city  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  select  a  more 
suitable  site.  Three  sites  were  proposed  by  this  committee 
—  one  on  Seminary  hill,  one  on  Quarry  hill  and  a  site  on  the 
west  end  of  Seminary  hill,  owned  by  Judge  Irwin.  At  this 
time  and  for  long  afterward  the  association  was  known  as 
the  'Allegheny  Telescope  Association,'  and  it  is  a  matter  of 
great  interest  to  us  to  know  of  the  men  who  were  the  prime 
movers  in  this  pioneer  astronomical  association,  for  at  that 
time  in  our  history  there  were  very  few  astronomical  ob- 
servatories of  any  note  in  the  United  States.  I  find  on  this 
roll  of  honor  the  names  of  Hon.  Thomas  M.  Howe,  R.  S. 
Hays,  William  J.  Bissel,  John  A.  Wilson,  Josiah  King,  Ed- 
ward Rahm,  John  Dean,  William  Baggaley,  H.  Hepburn, 
William  Thaw,  David  McCandless,  Christian  Yeager,  Wash- 
ington McClintock,  Robert  Dalzell,  Thomas  Bakewell,  R.  B. 
Sterling,  Prof.  Lewis  Bradley,  Henry  Irwin,  Felix  R. 
Brunot,  James  Park,  Jr.,  C.  G.  Hussey,  James  Marshall, 
David  Campbell,  G.  W.  Cass,  Henry  Bollman,  John  S. 
Shoenberger,  General  Robinson,  Mr.  O'Hara,  James  M. 
Cooper,  William  Morrison,  Samuel  Gormley. 

[  298  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

' '  So  far  as  I  can  learn  all  of  these  grand  men  have  passed 
away  from  earth,  but  they  have  left  an  honored  name,  names 
to  grace  the  roll  of  honor  of  any  community.  Many  other 
citizens  joined  the  association  shortly  after  these  names 
were  recorded  in  the  minute  book. 

''  The  committee  on  site  had  some  negotiations  with  the 
city  with  reference  to  a  location  on  Seminary  Hill,  a  lease 
of  which  was  offered  to  the  association  for  an  annual  rental 
of  $60  per  year,  but  about  that  time  Mr,  Ferguson  and  Mr. 
McClintock  offered,  free  of  cost,  a  large  part  of  the  plot  of 
ground  on  which  the  observatory  now  stands,  and  an  addi- 
tional piece  was  purchased  from  Mr.  Ashworth,  making  in 
all  a  tract  of  over  ten  acres,  on  what  was  then  perhaps  as 
fine  a  location  for  an  observatory  as  could  be  found  near  the 
city,  as  the  prevailing  winds  carried  the  smoke  away  from 
it,  thus  insuring  good  observations  in  its  earlier  history. 

^'  So  successful  was  the  association  in  raising  funds  for 
the  proposed  observatory  that  it  was  decided  to  purchase  a 
13-inch  telescope  instead  of  an  8-inch,  as  originally  pro- 
posed, and  on  motion  of  Mr.  William  Thaw  it  was  decided 
to  instruct  a  committee  to  make  arrangements  for  the  pur- 
chase of  an  instrument  from  Mr.  Fitz,  of  New  York,  who  had 
only  a  short  time  before  completed  a  similar  instrument  for 
Dudley  observatory  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

*'  This  committee,  consisting  of  Mr.  Josiah  King,  Hon. 
Thomas  M.  Howe  and  Dr.  C.  G.  Hussey,  requested  Prof. 
Bradley  to  go  to  New  York  and  make  arrangements  for  the 
telescope  of  13-inch  aperture,  to  be  mounted  equatorially 
and  placed  in  the  observatory  when  completed.  Prof.  Brad- 
ley's  report  was  of  such  a  satisfactory  character  that  the 
proposal  of  Mr.  Fitz,  made  on  January  17,  1860,  was  ac- 
cepted at  the  meeting  of  the  board,  held  January  31. 

''  The  complete  organization  of  the  association  did  not 
take  place  until  May  15, 1860,  when  the  constitution  and  by- 
laws were  reported  and  adopted  and  a  board  of  directors 
elected.  The  members  constituting  the  board  were :  Hon. 
Thomas  M.  Howe,  Dr.  C.  G.  Hussey,  Mr.  William  Thaw, 
Mr.  Josiah  King  and  Mr.  John  H.  Shoenberger.  Dr.  C.  G. 
Hussey  was  elected  president  of  the  board  and  Mr.  James 
Park,  Jr.,  secretary.    The  act  of  incorporation  by  the  legis- 

[  299  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

lature  of  Pennsylvania  was  approved  by  Governor  Packer 
on  March  22,  1860. 

"  At  this  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  observatory  there  is 
some  discrepancy  in  the  dates,  as  the  architects'  plans  were 
accepted  and  approved  about  May  eighth,  just  a  week  before 
the  election  of  the  board  of  directors.  Messrs.  Barr  & 
Moser  were  the  architects.  The  contract  for  the  building 
was  awarded  to  several  parties,  Mr.  J.  S.  Knox  building  the 
stonework  and  Messrs.  Smith  &  Bungy  the  carpenter  work. 

"  Mr.  Fitz's  work  on  the  great  telescope,  its  completion 
and  the  reports  of  the  tests  by  Dr.  Lewis  Rutherford  and 
Dr.  Brunnow  make  up  a  most  interesting  part  of  the  history 
during  this  period  of  the  development  of  the  observatory 
and  its  equipment,  all  of  which  is  recorded  in  the  minute 
book  of  the  association.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  obser- 
vatory was  completed  and  the  telescope  erected  between  the 
first  of  November,  1860,  and  the  end  of  January,  1861. 

' '  On  August  eighth,  1867,  the  names  of  Prof.  S.  P.  Lang- 
ley  and  Prof.  James  Thompson  were  placed  before  the 
Board  of  Trustees  soliciting  an  appointment  to  the  chair  of 
Astronomy  and  Physics.  Prof.  Langley  was  unanimously 
elected  to  the  chair. 

"  From  this  time  onward  the  institution  took  its  place 
among  the  working  observatories  of  the  world.  It  would  be 
impossible  within  the  limits  of  this  paper  to  tell  you  more 
than  a  moiety  of  the  splendid  observations  and  discoveries 
made  by  Prof.  Langley  and  his  able  assistants.  The  long- 
series  of  solar  observations,  for  which  this  region  is  so  well 
suited,  gave  to  the  world  new  views  of  the  sun  and  its  sur- 
roundings, and  the  series  of  magnificent  drawings  of  sun 
spots  made  by  Profs.  Langley,  Frost,  Keeler  and  Mr.  Very 
are  now  considered  classic  and  invaluable  in  our  studies  of 
solar  phenomena. 

^'  In  1890  Professor  Langley  was  called  to  the  highest 
position  of  any  scientific  institution  in  the  land,  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution  in  Washington,  D.  C,  to  fill  a  chair  that 
had  been  occupied  by  Henry  and  Baird,  where,  amidst  his 
many  duties,  he  still  found  the  time  to  carry  on  his  bolo- 
metric  and  aerodromic  researches.  Professor  Langley  con- 
tributed fifty-four  papers  to  scientific  journals  during  his 
directorate  of  the  observatory. 

[  300  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

'^  Professors  Frost,  Hall,  Very,  and  Keeler  had  been 
associated  with  Professor  Langley  during  his  stay  at  the 
observatory,  all  of  whom  made  for  themselves  an  honored 
record.  Professor  Frost  now  occupies  the  position  of  Pro- 
fessor of  Physics  in  the  Western  University,  and  Professor 
Very  accepted  a  position  at  Ladd  Observatory  of  Brown 
University. 

' '  Professor  Keeler,  after  spending  a  year  studying  with 
Helmboltz  and  Quinke,  in  Germany,  returned  to  the  ob- 
servatory, where  he  further  assisted  Professor  Langley  in 
his  researches  of  the  selective  absorption  of  solar  energy 
and  other  problems  of  scientific  value. 

''  In  May,  1891,  Professor  Keeler  was  unanimously 
elected  to  the  Directorship  of  the  Allegheny  Observatory, 
a  position  he  at  once  accepted.  When  Professor  Keeler 
came  to  Allegheny  he  found  the  observatory  poorly 
equipped  for  the  line  of  investigation  he  desired  to  pursue 
as  a  continuation  of  his  work  at  Lick  Observatory,  but 
friends  of  the  institution  and  Professor  Keeler  soon  fur- 
nished the  means.  Mrs.  William  Thaw  contributed  the 
money  to  construct  a  spectroscope  of  the  highest  type, 
which  was  designed  by  Professor  Keeler.  Mr.  William 
Thaw,  Jr.,  supplied  the  means  for  a  new  driving  clock  and 
the  remounting  of  the  13-inch  equatorial,  while  the  Junta 
club,  of  Pittsburgh,  generously  donated  a  sum  sufficient  to 
place  a  modern  shutter  on  the  dome.  Thus  equipped.  Pro- 
fessor Keeler  commenced  a  series  of  researches  by  which, 
in  the  years  he  was  with  us,  some  of  the  most  brilliant  dis- 
coveries ever  made  in  astronomical  science  were  added  to 
those  he  had  already  given  to  the  world. 

' '  It  would  be  impossible  in  the  limits  of  this  paper  to  tell 
you  of  the  splendid  achievements  in  the  domain  of  Astro- 
physics of  our  departed  friend,  for  since  this  new  temple 
of  the  skies  began  to  rise  from  its  foundation  his  spirit 
has  taken  its  flight  to  dwell  among  the  stars  he  loved  so 
fondly. 

"  Before  Professor  Keeler  left  us  he  had  made  a  care- 
fully prepared  plan  for  a  new  observatory.  Professor 
Wadsworth  at  once  took  a  deep  interest  in  working  out 
the  details  of  the  proposed  new  building  and  its  instru- 

[  301  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

ments,  and  after  spending  the  best  part  of  a  year  on  the 
plans,  he  has  given  to  us,  to  the  most  minute  detail,  a  build- 
ing in  which  the  science  of  Astro-physics  can  be  studied 
as  never  before.  A  building,  large  as  it  is,  of  which  every 
nook  and  corner  is  suited  to  carrying  out  some  problem  in 
the  new  astronomy  of  which  there  are  vast  fields  yet  un- 
explored, and  in  which  our  new  director,  let  us  hope,  may 
reap  a  harvest  of  discovery  as  yet  undreamed  of.  Professor 
Wadsworth  came  to  us  as  Professor  Keeler's  first  choice. 
He  has  already  made  many  important  researches  in  the 
realm  of  Astro-physics.  He  labored  day  and  night  for 
the  success  of  the  new  observatory,  and  we  only  trust  that 
with  his  indomitable  will  and  energy  he  will  not  pass  the 
elastic  limit  and  break  down  ere  his  work  is  finished. 

"  Our  architect,  Mr.  T.  E.  Billquist,  has  put  many  hours 
of  faithful  work  into  the  development  of  the  exterior  beauty 
and  completeness  of  the  building  throughout,  and  we  trust 
when  it  is  finished  it  will  be  an  honor  to  him  and  his  craft, 
and,  may  I  add,  that  if  the  remainder  of  the  observatory  is 
constructed  by  the  contractors  with  the  same  fidelity  and 
good  workmanship  that  has  characterized  the  work  already 
done,  we  shall  have  a  building  that  will  stand  for  cen- 
turies." 

The  new  building,  the  corner  stone  of  which  was  laid 
October  twentieth,  1900,  with  every  elaborate  ceremony, 
has  been  finished,  at  a  cost  between  two  hundred  and 
fifty  and  three  hundred  thousand  dollars.  By  the  desire  of 
Dr.  Brashear  and  with  the  permission  of  Mrs.  Keeler,  the 
ashes  of  James  E.  Keeler  lie  in  the  crypt  under  the  dome, 
so  that  the  new  observatory,  that  is  in  such  great  part  due 
to  his  genius,  is  his  tomb. 

It  is,  however,  the  work  of  Dr.  Brashear  himself  that  has 
made  the  Allegheny  Observatory  known  the  world  over. 
He  has  made  discoveries  and  invented  apparatus  that  have 
astonished  the  entire  scientific  world,  and  the  demand  for 
his  delicate  astronomical  and  physical  instruments  far  ex- 
ceeds the  supply.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading 
astronomers  and  authorities  in  Astro-physics  of  the  world, 
but  every  Pittsburgher  feels  that  he  is  his  especial  ''  star- 
finder.  ' ' 

[  302  ] 


-   ■  ,X  "  ALLEGHENY      OBSERVATOEY,      RIVERVIEW      PARK,     ALLEGHENY. 


THE    SCHOOLS 

The  gifts  for  the  new  building  and  the  instruments  have 
been  most  liberal  and  there  is  to  be  a  new  30-inch  reflecting 
telescope.  This  also  is  to  be  a  memorial  to  Professor 
Keeler.  Dr.  Frank  Schlesinger,  from  the  Yerkes  Observa- 
tory, is  the  present  director. 

Carnegie  Technicai.  Schools. 

Perhaps  the  two  most  practical  of  all  Andrew  Car- 
negie's gifts  to  Pittsburgh  are  those  of  two  million  dol- 
lars to  endow  a  school  which  should  embody  a  scheme 
of  secondary  technical  education  for  both  sexes,  and  one 
million  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  the  erection 
of  suitable  buildings  for  the  same.  The  city  purchased 
thirty-two  acres  of  ground  opposite  the  Phipps  Conserva- 
tory for  the  campus,  at  a  cost  of  three  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars.  The  buildings  were  erected  by  Palmer 
and  Hornbostel,  of  New  York,  with  the  idea  of  permitting 
numerous  additions,  hence  the  style  of  architecture. 

In  the  organization  of  this  school  or  schools,  the  govern- 
ing board,  assisted  by  able  committees  of  educators,  gave 
extensive  study  and  consideration  to  their  future  develop- 
ment, and,  upon  their  recommendations,  a  carefully  worked 
out  plan  and  scope  were  adopted.  Four  subdivisions  were 
recommended : 

I.  School  of  Applied  Science  (for  young  men). 
II.  School  of  Apprentices  and  Journeymen  (for  young 
men). 

III.  School  of  Applied  Design  (for  both  sexes). 

IV.  Technical  School  for  Women. 

The  aim  of  the  schools  is  to  become  a  university,  in  the 
most  liberal  interpretation  of  the  term,  for  specialization  in 
art,  science,  and  industry  of  a  secondary  grade,  including 
all  that  is  best  in  the  existing  schools  of  the  world,  with  a 
scheme  of  instruction  balanced  between  the  elementary 
courses  of  the  grammar  schools  and  the  engineering  courses 
of  the  great  universities,  without  trespassing  on  the  general 
courses  of  the  high  schools  or  the  manual  training  which 
is  included  in  the  courses  of  high  and  grammer  schools. 

The  first  school  to  open  was  the  School  of  Applied 
Sciences,  October  sixteenth,  1905,  with  a  curriculum  which 

[  303  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

included  mathematics,  drawing,  physics,  chemistry,  strength 
of  materials,  and  English,  during  the  first  year.  There 
are  both  day  and  evening  schools,  and  the  tuition  fee  is 
entirely  nominal,  being  twenty  dollars  per  year  for  resi- 
dents of  Pittsburgh  and  thirty  dollars  for  all  others,  and 
for  the  evening  schools,  five  dollars  per  year  for  residents 
of  Pittsburgh  and  seven  dollars  for  all  others.  Mr.  Hamer- 
schlag,  of  New  York,  was  elected  director  by  the  board  of 
trustees  in  1903.  Out  of  six  thousand  applicants  at  the 
opening  of  the  school,  seven  hundred  and  seventy-three 
were  admitted.  Previous  to  the  regular  opening  of  the 
School  of  Applied  Science,  beginning  in  April,  1904,  there 
were  delivered  during  the  year,  one  hundred  and  one  lec- 
tures by  eminent  professors,  in  the  various  library  build- 
ings of  the  city.  These  schools  promise  to  be  the  most 
thoroughly  practical  of  all  Pittsburgh's  educational  insti- 
tutions, and  to  redound  bounteously  to  the  credit  of  the 
already  much  famed  Andrew  Carnegie. 

The  Common  Schools. 

William  Penn,  in  the  ''  Frame  "  of  government  for  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania,  signed  April  twenty-fifth,  1682, 
in  the  twelfth  section  provided,  "  that  the  governor  and 
provincial  council  shall  erect  and  order  all  public  schools 
and  encourage  and  reward  the  authors  of  useful  sciences 
and  laudable  invention  in  the  said  provinces."  But  the 
governors  and  provincial  councilors,  who  administered  the 
affairs  of  Pennsylvania  under  the  instructions  contained 
in  the  "  Frame  "  of  Willian  Penn,  were  so  occupied  with 
the  struggle  for  life  which  was  being  made  against  the 
savages,  and  for  maintaining  her  territorial  rights  against 
the  encroachments  of  sister  States,  that  consideration  of 
the  Twelfth  section  was  not  reached  until  Pennsylvania 
had  become  a  State  of  the  Union  in  1790.  The  State  Con- 
stitution contained  this  paragraph:  ''  The  legislature,  as 
soon  as  conveniently  may  be,  shall  provide  by  law  for 
the  establishment  of  schools  throughout  the  State  in  such 
manner  that  the  poor  may  be  taught  gratis. ' '  Though  the 
material  civilization  of  the  community  progressed  rapidly, 

[  304  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

nineteen  years  elapsed  before  the  legislators  found  it ' '  con- 
venient "  or  perhaps  possible  to  attend  to  the  matter  of 
schools. 

The  Pennsylvania  Act  of  1809,  (analogous  to  an  Act 
pased  by  Massachusetts  in  1642)  ordered  the  township 
assessors  to  report  annually  to  the  county  commissioners 
the  names  of  the  children  in  each  of  their  several  districts 
whose  parents  were  unable  to  pay  school  tuition.  These 
children  were  to  be  permitted  the  privilege  of  attending  the 
nearest  private  school  and  the  bills  were  to  be  paid  by  the 
county.  This  did  not  become  a  popular  measure,  as  the 
children  of  the  indigent  were  quickly  denominated  ' '  county 
scholars  "  by  the  pay  scholars,  and  many  of  the  parents 
preferred  to  let  their  children  go  without  education  rather 
than  accept  the  glaring  charity  of  the  State,  which  seems 
to  have  carried  much  the  same  obliquity  that  attends  the 
charity  offered  by  the  poor-house  of  to-day.  There  are  no 
printed  records  of  the  money  expended  by  the  State  under 
the  Act  of  1809,  and  if  records  were  kept  of  the  expenditure 
in  Allegheny  county,  they  perished  when  the  Court  House 
was  burned.  The  records  kept  of  the  county  of  Phila- 
delphia, however,  show  the  annual  expenditure  there  to 
have  been  a  little  over  twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  the 
number  of  "  county  scholars  "  each  year  to  have  been 
about  nineteen  hundred. 

The  need  for  free  schools  was  so  obtrusively  obvious  that 
a  number  of  the  benevolent  women  of  Pittsburgh,  in  the 
summer  of  1816,  did  all  in  their  power  to  meet  the  difficulty 
by  instituting  "  The  Adelphi  Free  School."  The  object  of 
this  school  was  the  ''  gratuitous  instruction  of  poor  female 
children  in  reading,  writing,  arithmatic,  sewing  and  knit- 
ting."  And  though  the  duties  of  the  management  were 
multifarious,  the  seventh  article  of  the  constitution  of  the 
society  declared,  ^'  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  managers  to 
assist  in  instructing  the  pupils ;  and  they  shall  each  attend 
a  week,  in  alphabetical  rotation,  in  the  morning,  and  when 
found  necessary  in  the  afternoon."  The  report  at  the  end 
of  the  first  year  of  this  school  was  encouraging.  Donations, 
subscriptions,  and  interest  amounted  to  six  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  dollars  and  twenty-six  and  one-half  cents.  In 
20  [  305  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

the  course  of  the  year,  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  children 
had  been  received  into  the  school  with  an  average  attend- 
ance of  fifty.  One  small  feminine  prodigy  of  nine  years  is 
reported  to  have  ''  committed  to  memory  the  Mother's  and 
Shorter  Catechisms  beside  twenty-five  hymns  and  ten  chap- 
ters or  Psalms  from  the  Bible;  "  this,  presumably,  in  addi- 
tion to  ' '  reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  sewing  and  knitting. ' ' 
It  is  further  said  that  ' '  the  most  flattering  improvement  is 
manifested  in  the  habits  and  manners  of  the  pupils;  and 
in  some  of  them  reformation  from  the  vices,  lying,  swearing, 
fighting  and  stealing." 

The  Adelphi  Free  School  was  in  no  sense  a  public  or 
common  school.  It  served,  however,  to  indicate  the  atti- 
tude of  the  thinking  class  and  to  illustrate  at  least  one 
effort  that  was  made  in  Pittsburgh  to  fill  the  pressing  need 
felt  for  public  schools,  the  Act  of  1809,  to  educate  the  poor 
gratis,  being  so  obnoxious  as  to  be  wholly  inoperative  in 
many  counties.  It  was,  however,  impossible  to  procure 
effective  legislation. 

In  1828  was  instituted  ^'  The  Pennsylvania  Society  for 
the  Promotion  of  Common  Schools,"  the  first  report  of 
which  has  been  preserved  in  Hazards'  Register  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Volume  I,  1828.  The  society  was  extremely  zealous 
in  its  work  and  did  much  to  crystallize  the  general  public 
feeling  which  finally  brought  about  the  institution  of  Com- 
mon Schools. 

Governor  George  Wolf,  in  his  inaugural  address,  made 
Tuesday,  December  fifteenth,  1829,  said,  "  I  would  call  the 
attention  of  that  portion  of  my  fellow  citizens  who  compose 
the  legislative  branch  of  government,  to  one  or  two  topics, 
the  first  of  which,  it  seems  to  me,  no  executive  magistrate 
can  abstain  from  pressing  on  the  attention  of  the  legisla- 
ture, without  being  justly  chargeable  with  a  culpable  neglect 
of  duty;  I  mean  that  clause  of  the  constitution  which  en- 
joins that  "  the  legislature  shall  as  soon  as  conveniently 
may  be,  provide  by  law  for  the  establishment  of  schools 
throughout  the  State,  in  such  manner  that  the  poor  may  be 
taught  gratis,"  an  injunction  which  I  trust  no  statesman 
will  disregard  or  philanthropist  treat  with  neglect.  This 
call  has  been  so  frequently  made  by  the  eminent  statesmen 

[  306  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

who  have  preceded  me  in  the  executive  department  of  this 
government,  that  I  fear  a  repetition  of  it  now  will  be  con- 
sidered as  forming  a  subject  too  stale  and  hackneyed  to  be 
productive  of  any  beneficial  effects;  but  as  some  of  those 
calls  have  heretofore  produced  favorable  results,  may  I 
not  be  permitted  to  indulge  the  hope  that  the  enlightened 
body  I  am  now  addressing,  will  turn  their  attention  to  the 
injunction  itself  as  being  one,  which  considering  the  high 
source  from  which  it  emanated,  is  entitled  to  their  unquali- 
fied deference  and  respect." 

At  last  it  seemed  decreed  that  the  common  schools  were 
to  come.  Governor  Wolf  offered  a  scheme  in  his  speech 
made  January  fourteenth,  1830,  by  which  the  money  could 
be  obtained : 

''  I  would  suggest  therefore,  for  the  consideration  and 
the  serious  deliberation  of  the  Legislature,  the  propriety  of 
providing  by  law  that  the  commissioners  of  several  counties 
within  this  Commonwealth,  in  addition  to  the  annual 
assessment  of  the  ordinary  county  rates  and  levies,  be 
authorized  to  assess  a  certain  per  cent,  of  small  amount, 
upon  the  property,  real  and  personal,  trades,  occupations, 
etc.,  of  our  citizens,  to  be  collected  by  the  same  ofiicer  to 
whom  the  collection  of  the  county  tax  is  entrusted,  to  be 
paid  by  the  several  county  treasurers  to  the  commissioners 
of  internal  improvement  funds,  and  by  them  invested  in  the 
funds  of  the  Commonwealth,  bearing  interest  at  5^.  The 
interest  as  it  becomes  due  from  time  to  time,  to  be  otherwise 
invested,  and  that  part  so  invested,  together  with  the  in- 
terest thereon  accruing,  shall  be  taken  and  held  by  the  Com- 
monwealth for  the  purposes  of  a  general  system  of  educa- 
tion, and  for  no  other  means  whatever. ' ' 

A  meeting  of  the  Pittsburgh  citizens  was  held  in  the 
court  house,  on  January  thirtieth,  1830,  over  which  Matthew 
B.  Lowry  presided  and  for  which  Edward  P.  Gazzam  acted 
as  secretary.     It  was  resolved : 

''  That  the  subjoined  memorial  of  the  '  Pennsylvania 
Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Public  Schools  '  be  approved 
and  adopted  by  this  meeting,  and  that  the  officers  of  this 
meeting  be  requested  to  sign  the  same,  and  forward  it  to 
our,  representatives  in  the  State  Legislature. 

[  307  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

' '  To  the  Honorable  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  The  memorial 
of  the  subscribers,  citizens  of  the  said  Commonwealth. 

' '  Respectfully  sheweth :  That  your  memorialists  contem- 
plate with  regret  the  imperfections  of  the  system  of  public 
education  now  established  in  Pennsylvania,  and  are 
desirous  that  the  constitutional  provisions  on  this  subject 
may  be  carried  into  effect  by  adequate  Legislative  move- 
ments. 

"  We  regard  the  existing  laws  as  insufficient  for  that 
purpose.  Their  effect  has  not  been  that  univeral  extension 
of  education  which  the  nature  of  our  republican  government 
requires;  and  there  is  reason  to  fear  that  if  they  are  con- 
tinued without  improvement,  they  will  yearly  become  more 
defective  in  their  operations. 

'^  We  lament  that  a  Commonwealth  like  ours,  powerful, 
wealthy,  distinguished  for  wise  laws  and  gigantic  internal 
improvements,  should  remain  inferior  to  any  of  her  sister 
states,  in  a  matter  of  such  vital  importance  as  the  diffusion 
of  education.  We  earnestly  request  that  you  will,  as  speedily 
as  possible,  direct  your  attention  to  this  subject;  and  es- 
tablish by  law  a  uniform  system  of  schools,  to  be  supported 
at  the  public  expense,  in  every  district  of  the  State  where 
the  inhabitants  are  willing  to  receive  them.  It  is  well 
known  that  in  New  England  and  the  State  of  New  York,  the 
public  schools  are  so  well  conducted  as  to  supercede,  to  a 
great  extent,  the  necessity  of  supporting  private  establish- 
ments and  we  doubt  not  that  the  same  might,  with  proper 
exertions,  be  made  the  case  in  Pennsylvania. 

' '  Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  be  pub^ 
lished  in  all  the  papers  of  this  city. ' ' 

Very  strong  feeling  was  evidenced  in  the  various  news- 
papers throughout  this  period  at  the  inertness  of  the  Legis- 
lature in  even  considering,  let  alone  taking  action,  toward 
raising  an  adequate  school  fund.  Many  are  the  reported 
meetings  of  "  Teachers'  Associations,"  and  *'  the  resolu- 
tions "  of  numerous  literary  societies,  of  which  the  vital 
gist  was : ' '  The  subject  of  common  schools  does  not  receive 
the  attention  in  this  State  which  its  importance  demands ;  ' ' 
* '  and  it  is  resolved  to  look  with  regret  on  the  neglect  of  the 

[  308  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

Legislature  of  this  State  in  enacting  laws  for  the  better 
support  and  regulation  of  common  schools." 

In  1824  an  Act  had  been  passed  ' '  to  provide  for  the  more 
effectual  education  of  the  poor  gratis,"  but  this  law  was 
never  permitted  to  become  active  and  after  two  years  was 
repealed,  and  so  the  old  ^  *  convenient  ' '  law  of  * '  '09  "  con- 
tinued to  be  the  statute  of  education  in  Pennsylvania. 
From  time  to  time  special  enactments  had  been  made  for 
Philadelphia,  Lancaster,  and  Pittsburgh,  and  though  the 
committees  report  the  work  of  the  "  Poor  Schools  "  of 
Philadelphia  as  beneficial,  no  such  report  is  extant  of  the 
*'  Poor  Schools  "  of  Pittsburgh,  but  on  the  twenty-third 
of  November,  1830,  a  Meeting  of  the  Teachers  of  the  Com- 
mon Schools  in  the  county  of  Allegheny  was  held  in  the 
Court  House.  The  resolutions  there  adopted  throw  con- 
siderable light  on  the  feeling  of  the  public  and  on  the 
apathy  of  the  Legislature  in  educational  matters.  But  the 
legislators  were  at  this  time  entirely  occupied  with  the 
great  Internal  Improvement  Bill — the  Pennsylvania  Canal 
—  which  had  been  commenced  in  1826.  Legislation  on  all 
other  matters  was  for  many  years  secondary  to  this,  but 
the  advocates  of  a  public  system  of  education  persevered. 

In  January,  1831,  the  following  memorial  was  sent  to  the 
Capital  at  Harrisburg: 

*'  To  the  Honorable  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  the  memorial  of  the 
subscribers  and  citizens  of  the  said  Commonwealth  show- 
eth: 

''  That  your  memorialists  contemplate  with  regret  the 
imperfections  of  the  system  of  public  education  now  es- 
tablished in  Pennsylvania  and  are  desirous  that  the  con- 
stitutional provisions  on  this  subject,  established  in  1790, 
viz:  *  That  the  Legislature  shall  as  soon  as  conveniently 
may  be,  provide  by  law,  for  the  establishment  of  schools 
throughout  the  State,'  may  be  carried  into  effect  by  the 
Legislature  unanimously.    *    *    * 

' '  Your  memorialists  further  beg  leave  to  state  that  there 
have  already  been  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars 
expended  by  the  Legislature  for  colleges  and  academies, 
from  which  institutions  the  poor  classes  have  been  excluded. 

[  309  ] 


THE   HISTOEY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

This  your  memorialists  believe  to  be  anything  else  than  what 
the  f  ramers  of  our  constitution  intended.  Happily  ignorant 
of  the  different  grades  in  society,  aware  that  no  one  is  de- 
barred from  our  political  institutions,  we  consider  it  a 
duty  to  establish  a  system  of  liberal  education,  as  extensive 
as  circumstances  can  possibly  authorize.  The  details  of 
such  a  plan  are  of  course  left  to  the  wisdom  of  the  Legisla- 
ture. Your  memorialists,  however,  take  the  liberty  of  men- 
tioning that  a  committee  be  appointed  which  shall  divide 
the  State  into  such  school  districts,  in  which  there  may  be 
proper  officers,  elected  by  the  people  to  establish  and  regu- 
late the  schools,  as  directed  by  the  vigilance  of  those  officers 
that  no  incompetent  or  unworthy  teacher  may  find  a  place 
therein.  Each  district  may  use  all  or  part  of  its  own  funds, 
which  would  not  amount  to  more  than  is  now  expended  by 
individuals  for  that  purpose. 

''  Your  memorialists  are  informed  from  undoubted 
authority  that  while  there  are  at  least  four  hundred  thou- 
sand children  in  Pennsylvania,  between  the  ages  of  five  and 
fifteen,  there  were  not  during  the  past  year  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  in  all  the  schools  of  the  State,  then  it  is 
probable  that  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  children, 
capable  of  instruction,  were  not  in  the  schools  during  the 
past  year.  Many  of  these  children  never  go  to  school  at 
all.  Multitudes  are  living  and  continuing  to  live  in  igno- 
rance, and  multitudes  more  receive  at  the  best,  but  the 
most  superficial  instruction.  We  earnestly  request  that 
you  will,  speedily  as  possible,  direct  your  attention  to  the 
subject  and  establish  by  law  a  uniform  system  of  schools 
to  be  supported  at  the  public  expense  in  every  district  of 
the  State." 

Mr.  Fetterman,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  education, 
backed  by  the  strong  plea  in  the  memorial,  on  the  third 
of  February,  1831,  made  so  forceful  a  report  of  the  general 
conditions  and  need  for  common  schools,  that  it  was  ac- 
cepted by  both  the  House  and  Senate  and  resulted  in  legis- 
lation regarding  the  making  of  a  School  Fund.  Mr.  Fetter- 
man's  report  stated; 

''A  Government  to  be  stable  must  rest  upon  the  virtue 
and  intelligence  of  its  citizens;  and  a  nation  to  continue 

[  310  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

prosperous  and  happy  must  plant  deep  and  wide  those 
moral  principles  that  direct  us  in  our  duty  as  individuals 
and  members  of  a  community. 

**  With  us,  the  capability  of  a  people  to  govern  them- 
selves is  undergoing  an  experiment.  To  be  successful,  the 
means  must  be  placed  within  their  reach,  by  which  they 
may  become  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  form  of 
Government,  and  guarded  against  that  corruption,  that 
when  once  seated,  causes  decay  of  all  free  institutions. 

^'  With  us,  every  man  is  eligible  to  office,  and  every  one 
should  be  enabled  to  prepare  himself,  so  as  honorably  and 
faithfully  to  discharge  the  functions  of  that  office  to  which 
the  exigencies  of  his  government  or  the  suffrages  of  his 
fellow  citizens  may  elevate  him. 

*'  With  us,  the  people  enjoy  to  the  fullest  extent  the 
elective  franchise.  That  it  may  be  prudently  and  properly 
exercised,  they  must  be  instructed  to  appreciate  the  value 
of  that  privilege,  and  to  judge  rightfully  of  men  and  things, 
else  they  may  be  led  to  the  commission  of  fatal  and  irretriev- 
able errors. 

'*  With  us,  in  the  hands  of  the  people  are  placed  their 
own  destinies.  That  they  may  be  propitious,  they  have  only 
to  be  enlightened  to  determine  their  own  good. 

' '  So  early  as  the  year  1770,  our  sister  State,  Connecticut, 
then  a  province,  led  the  way  in  the  establishment  of  a  gen- 
eral system  of  education.  Common  schools  were  opened 
to  every  child  within  her  territory;  able  and  competent 
teachers  were  secured,  and  a  fund  established  adequate  to 
the  support  of  their  system.  In  1789,  the  Legislature  of 
Massachusetts  provided  by  law  for  the  instruction  of  her 
youth;  since  then  she  has  been  followed  by  New  York, 
Ohio,  and  several  other  States.  With  the  Legislatures  of 
those  States  all  other  considerations  have  been  held  as  only 
secondary  to  a  right  instruction  of  their  citizens  and  have 
consequently  provided  ample  means  for  their  education. 
But  during  this  time  what  has  Pennsylvania  done?  She 
has  been  engaged  in  the  encouragement  of  industry,  in 
promoting  her  agriculture  and  manufactures,  in  increasing 
the  physical  comfort  and  convenience  of  her  citizens,  in 
improving  the  face  of  her  territory,  or  withdrawing  from 

[  311  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

the  bosom  of  the  earth  the  wealth  that  has  been  secreted 
for  ages  within  her.  Her  sister  commonwealths  have  not 
been  behind  her.  But  in  the  strife  of  contending  States 
which  should  be  foremost  in  the  cultivation  of  mind,  or, 
which  should  lead  to  the  improvement  of  the  human  heart, 
she  has  scarce  been  seen  or  felt  or  heard.  In  those  States 
wherein  common  schools  have  been  established,  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  intellectual  and  moral  powers  of  their 
people  have  kept  pace  with  their  advance  in  population  and 
greatness. 

' '  But  with  us  that  the  mind  has  been  fearfully  neglected 
through  a  long  career  of  prosperity,  is  too  faithfully  evi- 
denced by  the  degraded  state  of  education  amongst  us.  By 
the  fact  that  of  four  hundred  thousand  children,  between  the 
ages  of  five  and  fifteen  years,  it  is  estimated  that  more  than 
two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  have  not  been  within  a 
school  during  the  last  year ;  that  a  large  proportion  of  our 
adult  population  can  neither  read  nor  write,  and  that  in 
some  places  the  inhabitants  of  whole  districts  are  growing 
destitute  of  instruction,  unacquainted  with  their  duty  as 
citizens,  unfortified  by  the  influences  of  religion,  and  left 
to  become  fit  subjects  for  that  wild  spirit  of  party  that  has 
so  often  shaken  to  the  centre  our  social  relations,  or  to  be 
the  perpetrators  of  crime,  and  the  miserable  inmates  of  our 
jails  and  penitentiaries. 

*'  In  some  of  these  States  that  have  established  common 
schools,  it  has  been  ascertained  by  observation  that  of  those 
tried  and  convicted  for  the  commission  of  various  crimes, 
those  who  were  inmates  of  common  schools  were  in  pro- 
portion to  those  who  were  not,  of  not  more  than  one  to 
twenty.  With  the  experience  of  so  favorable  a  result  be- 
fore us,  when  crime  is  increasing  more  rapidly  than  the 
increase  of  our  population,  when  how  to  prevent  it  has  be- 
come the  constant  study  of  the  legislator,  your  committee 
would  suggest  what  means  more  effectual  than  the  educa- 
tion of  our  children,  than  to  secure  to  the  youth  of  present 
and  future  generations  a  substantial  and  moral  education 
that  will  incline  them  to  eschew  vice  and  love  virtue. 

"  In  such  a  population  where  the  uneducated  bear  so 
great  a  proportion  to  the  educated,  there  cannot  be  that 

[  312  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

firmness  that  is  essential  in  a  republican  government.  The 
great  moral  force  of  an  enlightened  people  is  wanting. 
Heretofore,  the  reach  of  a  few  centuries  has  embraced  the 
rise,  the  progress  and  the  fall  of  all  popular  governments. 
Their  declension  was  not  owing  to  any  original  defect  in 
their  organization,  but  to  their  neglect  to  educate  their 
people  to  make  them  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  their 
government,  and  enable  them  to  judge  rightly  of  the  meas- 
ures of  those  who  administered  them.  They  were  not 
preserved  a  moral  and  thinking  people  but  left  open  to 
corruption  and  were  too  easily  seduced  by  the  bland 
sycophancy  of  dangerous  men.  And  when  the  age  in 
which  we  live  is  so  strongly  marked  by  political  convulsion, 
when  all  old  institutions  appear  heaving  from  the  base, 
and  all  new  ones  seem  unsettled,  if  we  should  be  preserved 
from  that  change  for  the  worst  that  has  been  the  fate  of  all 
who  have  preceded  us,  provision  must  be  made  for  general 
education. 

''  Your  committee  were  further  of  the  opinion  that,  to 
secure  the  permanent  establishment  and  future  prosperity 
to  any  system  of  education,  it  must  derive  its  support  from 
some  means  other  than  voluntary  contribution  or  taxation 
alone.  In  the  States  in  which  the  common  schools  have  been 
opened,  their  support  has  been  provided  for  in  various 
ways.  In  Massachusetts  the  several  towns  are  compelled 
to  raise  the  necessary  money  by  taxation.  In  Connecticut 
they  are  supported  by  a  common  fund;  and  in  New  York, 
by  a  common  school  fund,  of  the  proceeds  of  which  annual 
distribution  is  made  amongst  their  several  school  districts 
on  condition  of  their  raising  by  taxation  or  otherwise  a 
sum  equal  to  their  distributive  share  of  that  fund.  In  Con- 
necticut their  common  school  fund  amounts  to  $1,882,000. 
In  New  York,  their  fund  amounts  to  about  $1,777,000,  and 
during  the  last  year  four  hundred  and  ninety-nine  thousand 
four  hundred  and  twenty-four  scholars  were  taught  on 
the  average  of  eight  months  and  at  an  expense  of  $536,320. 
The  latter  system  was  left  optional  with  the  people  to  adopt 
and  in  the  first  few  years  but  few  schools  were  established ; 
but  they  have  gradually  increased  and  are  now  extended 
over  all  the  vast  territory  of  that  State. 

[  313  ] 


THE    HISTORY    OF   PITTSBURGH 

"  Your  committee,  deeming  it  no  disparagement  to 
profit  by  the  example  of  other  States,  recommend  the  sup- 
port of  any  system  we  may  adopt,  in  a  way  somewhat  simi- 
lar to  that  of  New  York,  that  a  common  school  fund  shall  be 
formed,  and  any  deficiency  shall  be  provided  for  by  the 
districts  hereafter  to  be  established.  Thus  while  the  com- 
mon fund  will  operate  as  a  great  inducement  to  the  support 
of  schools,  the  contributions  of  those  concerned  in  each 
district  will  insure  a  deeper  interest  in  the  success  of  their 
schools  than  might  prevail  were  they  altogether  dependent 
upon  the  donations  of  the  public.  The  means  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  such  a  fund,  they  believe,  to  be  within  the  reach 
of  this  Legislature,  without  a  resort  to  taxation  or  embar- 
rassment to  the  concerns  of  the  commonwealth.  From  the 
most  accurate  information  they  have  been  able  to  obtain, 
there  is  due  to  the  commonwealth  from  the  holders  of  un- 
patented lands  a  sum  exceeding  two  millions  of  dollars, 
and  that  notwithstanding  the  low  rate  that  land  is  now 
sold  by  the  State,  from  lands  yet  vacant  and  unappro- 
priated, a  very  considerable  sum  in  addition  to  the  above 
can  be  raised.  The  payments  from  these  sources  into  the 
treasury  have  been  annually  increasing,  and  during  the  last 
year  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars. 
If  the  money  thus  arising  was  transferred  and  pledged  to 
the  support  of  common  schools,  within  three  years,  or  four 
at  the  utmost,  the  fund  would  increase  to  a  sum  sufficiently 
large  thereafter  to  warrant  the  yearly  distribution  of  a 
considerable  sum  for  their  support,  and  that  sum  would  in- 
crease with  the  fund  and  the  spread  of  the  schools  through- 
out the  State.  The  plan,  your  committee  believe  would  be 
decidedly  preferable  to  that  of  taxation ;  if  the  latter  would 
be  adopted  there  is  too  much  reason  to  fear  that  the  acts 
so  providing  for  a  fund  would  become  obnoxious  and  soon 
be  repealed ;  and  if  such  would  not  be  the  result,  yet  a  sum 
could  not  be  raised  that  for  many  years  would  warrant  a 
distribution.  Your  committee  have  been  governed  in  the 
belief  that  a  system  to  be  effectual,  must  commence  opera- 
tions within  three  or  four  years. 

"  The  setting  aside  of  the  proceeds  from  land  for  the 
support  of  schools,  will,  in  some  measure,  have  the  good 

[  314  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

effect  of  securing  the  payment  of  the  money  thus  due,  at  as 
early  a  period  as  those  who  are  delinquent  may  find  it  prac- 
ticable. This  disposition  will  be  promoted,  when  they  are 
assured  that  they  are  but  providing  for  the  future  welfare 
of  their  children;  that  the  money  thus  paid,  after  having 
aided  in  the  common  operations  of  government,  and  in  great 
purposes  of  internal  improvements,  will  flow  back  to  them 
again,  securing  to  their  children  a  good  education  and  mak- 
ing them  wiser  and  better  citizens. 

*'  And  by  this  disposition  of  the  money,  thus  arising, 
your  committee  believe  no  inconvenience  will  be  felt,  as 
before  mentioned.  It  is  recommended  that  the  money  thus 
paid  should  be  loaned  to  the  commonwealth  at  an  annual 
interest  of  five  per  cent,  until  otherwise  directed;  and  that 
until  the  school  fund  shall  have  increased  to  four  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  the  interest  arising  upon  the  sums  loaned 
shall  be  loaned  in  like  manner;  thus  reserving,  until  that 
period,  to  the  commonwealth  the  use  of  the  whole  sum  paid 
and  the  interest  upon  the  same.  At  that  period,  we  have 
every  assurance  that  the  financial  concerns  of  our  State 
will  be  truly  prosperous.  The  great  chains  of  canal  and 
railroad  we  are  now  constructing,  will  be  completed  and  in 
the  full  tide  of  successful  operation,  affording  sources  of 
profitable  and  unfailing  revenue,  so  much  so  that  it  cannot 
remain  longer  questionable  even  with  the  most  incredulous, 
but  that  they  will  yield  an  undisposed  surplus  sufficient  to 
meet  the  deficiency  that  will  then  be  occasioned  by  the  diver- 
sion of  the  proceeds  from  land.  And  in  the  event  of  a 
possible  failure  from  these  sources,  the  necessity  of  pro- 
viding for  the  ordinary  and  indispensable  expenditures  of 
government,  will  at  once  reconcile  the  people  of  Pennsyl- 
vania to  any  measures  that  may  be  deemed  necessary  to 
meet  them. 

*'  The  fund  that  can  thus  be  raised,  your  committee  be- 
lieve will  be  sufficient  to  secure  the  successful  support  of 
common  schools,  adequate  to  the  wants  of  our  rising  and 
increasing  population.  The  establishment  of  such  a  system, 
however,  cannot  be  the  work  of  a  month,  or  of  a  year,  but 
will  require  time  to  mature  and  get  under  way.  But  when 
once  under  way,  whilst  its  spread  will  be  gradual  it  will  be 

[  315  ] 


THE   HISTOEY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

constant,  till  its  blessings  shall  be  felt  througliout  every 
part  of  the  commonwealth. 

**  That  a  part  of  the  expense  of  supporting  the  system 
submitted  will  have  to  be  borne  by  the  inhabitants  of  those 
districts  in  which  schools  may  be  established,  your  commit- 
tee believe  will  impose  no  obstacle  to  the  general  acceptance 
of  the  provisions  of  the  act  detailing  that  system.  The 
money  now  annually  expended,  in  too  many  instances  waste- 
fully  and  uselessly  expended  in  the  support  of  private 
schools,  wherein  two  hundred  thousand  children  receive  but 
an  imperfect  instruction,  would  be  much  more  than  sufficient 
to  support  common  schools  throughout  our  State  and  secure 
a  sound  and  moral  education  to  all  our  youth.  Towards  the 
education  of  poor  children  alone,  there  is  annually  expended 
upwards  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  with  little  effect ; 
this  item  of  expenditure  will  cease  with  the  establishment 
of  common  schools  and  the  money  thus  expended  in  many 
counties  with  the  aid  of  a  distributing  share  of  the  common 
fund,  will  enable  those  counties  to  support  such  a  number 
of  schools  that  every  child  may  be  instructed,  and  to  estab- 
lish libraries  in  every  district,  securing  to  all  means  of 
acquiring  valuable  and  useful  information.  By  such  a  sys- 
tem there  will  thus  be  a  saving  to  the  community  of  at  least 
one-half  the  sum  now  yearly  expended  for  purposes  of 
education,  a  consideration  of  itself  sufficient  to  secure  our 
zealous  action.  But  other,  greater  and  more  splendid  re- 
sults are  justly  to  be  anticipated.  Whilst  we  thus  lay  the 
foundations  of  a  general  system  of  common  schools,  we 
secure  to  the  youth  of  this  age  that  are  gathering  around  us, 
and  those  that  shall  succeed  them,  equally  the  means  of 
obtaining  an  education  that  will  oppose  some  barrier  to  that 
fiood  of  dissipation  which  is  increasing  and  wide-spreading 
amongst  us ;  that  will  enable  them  to  appreciate  the  value  of 
our  free  institutions,  and  guard  them  from  their  abuse; 
that  will  save  them  from  that  wild  careering  of  faction  from 
which  we  have  not  been  exempt,  and  from  the  shock  of  those 
convulsions  that  are  felt  in  the  political  world;  and  finally 
we  shall  have  the  assurance  that  whilst  Pennsylvania  is 
rising  and  moving  forward  her  advance  will  be  sure;  and 
that  her  strength  will  consist  not  in  her  wealth  or  the  width 

[  316  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

of  her  territory ;  not  in  her  stupendous  improvements  or  the 
increase  of  her  population ;  but  in  the  virtue,  the  integrity 
and  the  intelligence  of  her  citizens." 

The  Legislature  finally  stirred,  and  an  act  was  passed  on 
the  second  of  April,  1831,  providing  for  the  establishment 
of  a  general  system  of  education  by  creating  "A  common 
school  fund."  Three  commissioners  were  appointed  ta 
manage  it.  All  moneys  due  from  unpatented  lands  secured 
to  the  State  by  mortgages  or  lien  for  purchase  money,  and 
all  moneys  for  applications,  warrants  and  patents  for  land 
fees  in  the  land  office,  and  the  proceeds  of  a  tax  of  one  mill 
per  dollars  were  assigned  to  it.  The  State  treasurer  was 
required  to  make  an  annual  report  of  the  amounts  received 
for  the  fund ;  the  interest  was  to  be  added  to  the  principal 
until  the  annual  investment  should  amount  to  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars;  then,  thereafter,  the  interest  was  to  be 
annually  distributed  for  the  support  of  such  schools  "  as 
shall  be  provided  for  by  law. ' ' 

This  act,  however,  made  no  immediate  providence  for 
schools,  and  those  near  whose  hearts  the  matter  rested,  who 
realized  the  vital  necessity  of  even  an  elementary  education, 
who  knew  education  meant  more  than  the  art  to  read  and 
write  —  meant  wholesome  ideas  of  work  and  the  privilege 
of  citizenship  —  continued  to  urge  the  matter.  Governor 
Wolf  always  devoted  a  part  of  his  messages  to  the  subject. 
In  December,  1833,  he  wrote : 

''  To  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Pennsylvania: 

*'  Fellow  Citizens: 

"  Universal  Education,  if  it  were  practicable  to  enforce 
it  everywhere,  would  operate  as  a  powerful  check  upon 
vice,  and  would  do  more  to  diminish  the  black  catalogue 
of  crimes,  so  generally  prevalent,  than  any  other  measure, 
whether  for  prevention  or  punishment,  than  has  hitherto 
been  devised ;  in  this  State,  it  is  not  only  considered  as  being 
entirely  practicable,  but  is  enjoined  by  the  Constitution  as 
a  solemn  duty,  the  non-compliance  with  which,  has  already 
stamped  the  stain  of  inexcusable  negligence  upon  the  char- 

[  317  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

acter  of  the  Commonwealth,  which  nothing  short  of  prompt 
and  efficient  measures  in  compliance  with  the  constitutional 
requisition  can  remove.  The  Legislature  has  the  authority 
of  the  constitution  to  act  efficiently  and  without  control  in 
this  matter.  And  '  to  provide  by  law,  for  the  establishment 
of  schools  throughout  the  State,  in  such  manner  that  the 
poor  may  be  taught  gratis,'  is  one  of  the  public  measures 
to  which  I  feel  it  to  be  my  duty  to  now  call  your  attention 
and  most  solemnly  to  press  upon  your  consideration.  Our 
apathy  and  indifference,  in  reference  to  this  subject,  be- 
comes the  more  conspicuous  when  we  reflect,  that  whilst  we 
are  expending  millions  for  the  improvement  of  the  physical 
condition  of  the  State,  we  have  not  hitherto  appropriated  a 
single  dollar  that  is  available  for  the  intellectual  improve- 
ment of  its  youth;  which  in  a  moral  and  political  point  of 
view,  is  of  ten-fold  more  consequence,  either  as  respects  the 
moral  influence  of  the  state,  or  its  political  power  and 
safety.  Let  me  not  be  understood,  however,  as  objecting  to 
the  expenditure  of  money  in  prosecuting  the  public  works  — 
far  from  it;  but  I  would  respectfully  urge  that  whilst  the 
one  is  being  successfully  done,  the  other  should  not  be  left 
undone;  indeed,  judging  from  the  flattering  indications 
already  given  by  the  former,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that, 
from  the  redundant  and  progressively  increasing  revenue 
which  may  with  great  certainty  be  expected  to  flow  into  the 
treasury  from  that  source,  much  aid  may,  at  no  distant  daj^, 
be  derived  to  the  latter,  should  it  be  found  expedient  to  re- 
sort to  that  branch  of  the  public  revenue  for  such  a  pur- 
pose. 

"According  to  the  returns  of  the  last  census,  we  have  in 
Pennsylvania  five  hundred  and  eighty-one  thousand  one 
hundred  and  eighty  children,  under  the  age  of  fifteen  years, 
and  one  hundred  and  forty-nine  thousand  and  eighty-nine 
between  the  ages  of  fifteen  and  twenty  years,  forming  an 
aggregate  of  seven  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty-nine  juvenile  persons  of  both  sexes,  under 
the  age  of  twenty  years,  most  of  them  requiring  more  or  less 
instruction.  And  yet,  with  all  this  numerous  youthful  popu- 
lation growing  up  around  us,  who  in  a  few  years  are  to  be 
our  rulers  and  our  law  givers,  the  defenders  of  our  country 

[  318  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

and  the  pillars  of  the  State,  and  upon  whose  education  will 
depend,  in  a  great  measure,  the  preservation  of  our  liberties 
and  the  safety  of  the  Republic,  we  have  neither  schools 
established  for  their  instruction  nor  provision  made  by  law 
for  establishing  them  as  enjoined  by  the  constitution.  How 
many  of  the  number  last  mentioned  would  be  entitled,  within 
the  meaning  of  the  constitution,  to  be  '  taught  gratis?  '  I 
have  no  means  of  ascertaining  but  am  inclined  to  the 
opinion  that  four  hundred  thousand  would  fall  short  of  the 
number;  about  twenty  thousand  of  these  as  appears  from 
the  returns  made  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth, 
under  a  resolution  of  the  House  of  Representatives  on  the 
ninth  of  January  last,  are  returned  as  charity  scholars, 
whose  tuition  is  to  be  paid  for  out  of  the  county  funds, 
leaving,  according  to  this  assumption,  three  hundred  and 
eighty  thousand  entirely  uninstructed. 

''  I  have  said  that  there  has  not  hitherto  been  an  appro- 
priation made  that  is  available  for  the  purpose  of  education; 
this  is  literally  true,  but  the  legislature,  by  the  act  of 
second  of  April,  eighteen  hundred  and  thirty-one,  have  made 
provision  for  erecting  a  fund,  in  prospect,  for  that  object, 
by  setting  apart  for  common  school  purposes,  the  proceeds 
arising  from  unpatented  land  fees  in  the  land  office,  and  all 
moneys  received  in  pursuance  of  the  provisions  contained  in 
the  fourth  section  of  the  act  to  increase  the  county  rates 
and  levies,  passed  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  March,  eighteen 
hundred  and  thirty-one,  which,  it  is  estimated,  will  on  the 
fourth  day  of  April  next,  amount  to  a  sum  not  less  than 
five  hundred  and  forty-six  thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty- 
three  dollars  and  seventy-one  cents.  This  sum,  with  the 
amount  annually  accruing  from  the  increased  county  rates 
and  levies  for  the  use  of  the  Commonwealth  whilst  the  act 
continues  in  force,  and  that  arising  from  a  continuance  of 
the  avails  of  the  land  office  thereafter,  is  chargeable  upon 
the  internal  improvement  fund,  at  a  compound  interest  of 
five  per  cent,  per  annum,  until  it  shall  produce  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars  annually,  after  which  the  interest  is  to  be 
distributed  at  the  end  of  each  year  and  applied  to  the  sup- 
port of  common  schools  throughout  the  State.  Estimating 
this  fund  in  its  most  unfavorable  aspect,  the  interest  will 

[  319  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

amount  to  the  sum  contemplated  for  distribution  on  or 
about  the  first  of  April,  eighteen  hundred  and  forty-three ; 
in  the  meantime,  however,  there  are  no  available  means  for 
commencing  this  much-desired  measure  of  State  policy,  this 
true  system  of  republican  equality  that  will  level  all  dis- 
tinction between  rich  and  poor ;  that  will  place  the  child  of 
the  most  indigent  citizen  of  the  Commonwealth  upon  a  level 
with  that  of  his  richer  neighbor,  both  in  the  school  room 
and  upon  the  campus;  will  instruct  the  rising  generation 
in  their  duties  as  citizens;  enable  them  to  appreciate  the 
sentiment  of  acquired  freedom;  and  secure  the  perpetua- 
tion of  civil  and  religious  liberty  to  our  country,  by  teaching 
them  what  civil  and  religious  liberty  really  import  and 
mean.  It  is  to  this  all-important  measure,  both  as  regards 
our  happiness  as  a  people  and  of  the  sincerity  of  our  in- 
valuable political  institutions,  to  which  I  would  earnestly 
invite  your  immediate  attention  and  upon  which  I  would 
solicit  your  prompt  action. 

^'  It  is  time,  fellow  citizens,  that  the  character  of  our 
State  should  be  redeemed  from  the  state  of  supineness  and 
indifference  under  which  its  most  important  interests,  the 
education  of  its  citizens,  have  so  long  been  languishing,  and 
that  a  system  should  be  arranged  that  would  ensure,  not 
only  an  adequate  number  of  schools  to  be  established 
throughout  the  State,  but  would  extend  its  provisions  so  as 
to  secure  the  education  and  instruction  of  a  competent  num- 
ber of  active,  intelligent  teachers,  who  will  not  only  be  pre- 
pared but  well  qualified  to  take  upon  themselves  the  govern- 
ment of  the  schools  and  to  communicate  instruction  to  the 
scholars.  Some  of  our  colleges  that  had  been  abandoned 
either  from  mismanagement,  or  the  want  of  sufficient  en- 
couragement, are  about  to  be  resuscitated  under  encourag- 
ing circumstances ;  most  of  these  have  partaken  largely  of 
the  liberality  and  bounty  of  the  State  and  would  doubtless 
willingly  extend  their  aid  to  accomplish  an  object  so  de- 
sirable. Others  have  but  recently  been  established  and 
gone  into  operation  and  have  as  yet  received  no  share  of 
the  Commonwealth's  munificence;  some,  if  not  all  of  these 
last  mentioned,  have  adopted  the  popular  and  improved 
Fellenberg  system  of  uniting  labor  with  study;  these,  it  is 

[  320  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

believed,  would  make  admirable  nurseries  for  bringing  up 
and  qualifying  young  men  for  the  business  of  teaching. 
Moderate  appropriations  in  aid  of  these  literary  institu- 
tions that  have  not  participated  of  the  Commonwealth's 
bounty,  might  place  them  in  a  condition  to  furnish  the  State 
with  a  respectable  number  of  well-educated  young  men, 
instructed,  as  some  of  those  institutions  propose  to  do,  in 
the  business  of  teaching  as  a  profession,  in  a  short  time 
and  at  a  comparatively  trifling  expense.  These  suggestions 
are  thrown  out  for  your  consideration,  should  they  elicit  a 
more  eligible  or  better  plan  for  attaining  the  end  desired, 
it  will  afford  me  much  gratification  to  unite  with  the  General 
Assembly  in  carrying  it  into  effect."     *     *     * 

Finally,  after  all  these  years  of  struggle  with  not  only  the 
Legislators,  but  against  the  inertia  of  the  people,  and  even 
the  aggressive  resistance  of  some,  largely  illiterate  for- 
eigners, on  the  first  day  of  April,  1834,  Governor  Wolf  ap- 
proved Act  102  to  establish  a  general  system  of  education 
by  common  schools  in  Pennsylvania. 

"  Preamble.  —  Whereas,  it  is  enjoined  by  the  constitu- 
tion, as  a  solemn  duty  which  cannot  be  neglected  without  a 
disregard  of  the  moral  and  political  safety  of  the  people: 
And  whereas,  the  fund  for  common  school  purposes,  under 
the  act  of  the  second  of  April,  1831,  will,  on  the  fourth  of 
April  next,  amount  to  the  sum  of  five  hundred  and  forty- 
six  thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty-three  dollars  and  sev- 
enty-two cents,  and  will  soon  reach  the  sum  of  two  millions 
of  dollars,  when  it  will  produce,  at  five  per  cent.,  an  interest 
of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  which,  by  said  act  is  to 
be  paid  for  the  support  of  common  schools :  And  whereas, 
provisions  should  be  made  by  law  for  the  distribution  of 
the  benefits  of  this  fund  to  the  people  of  the  respective 
counties  of  the  Commonwealth :    Therefore, 

"  Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  in 
General  Assembly  met,  and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  au- 
thority of  the  same.  That  the  city  and  county  of  Philadelphia 
and  every  other  county  in  this  Commonwealth,  shall  each 
form  a  school  division,  and  that  every  ward,  township  and 
borough  within  the  several  school  divisions,  shall  each  form 
21  [  321  ] 


THE   HISTOEY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

a  school  district:  Provided,  That  any  borough  which  is  or 
may  be  connected  with  a  township  in  the  assessment  and  col- 
lection of  county  rates  and  levies,  shall,  with  the  said  town- 
ship, so  long  as  it  remains  so  connected,  form  a  district ;  and 
each  of  said  districts  shall  contain  a  competent  number  of 
common  schools,  for  the  education  of  every  child  within  the 
limits  thereof,  who  shall  apply,  either  in  person  or  by  his  or 
her  parents,  guardian  or  next  friend,  for  admission  and 
instruction. 

"  Section  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  sheriff  of  each 
county,  thirty  days  previous  to  the  third  Friday  in  Septem- 
ber of  the  current  year,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
thirty-four,  to  give  notice  by  proclamation  to  the  citizens 
of  each  school  district,  to  hold  elections  in  their  respective 
townships,  wards  and  boroughs,  at  the  places  where  they 
hold  their  elections  of  supervisors,  town  councils  and  con- 
stables, to  choose  six  citizens  of  each  school  district  to  ser\^e 
as  school  directors  of  said  districts  respectively. ' ' 

Allegheny  county,  under  this  provision,  was  entitled  to 
about  five  thousand  dollars  annually  from  the  State.  Meet- 
ings were  held  June  twenty-eighth,  1834,  in  each  of  the  four 
wards : 

West  (First)  Ward,  at  the  house  of  George  Beale,  Market 
and  Third  streets,  when  W.  H.  Denny,  H.  D.  Sellers,  M.  D., 
John  McKee,  James  S.  Craft,  John  Sheriff,  W.  W.  Fetter- 
man  were  elected  directors. 

South  (Second)  Ward,  at  the  house  of  William  Alex- 
ander, Third  and  Smithfield  streets,  when  Richard  Biddle, 
Hon.  G.  B.  Dallas,  John  P.  Bakewell,  George  Cochran,  An- 
drew Fleming,  George  D.  Bruce,  M.  D.,  were  elected  di- 
rectors. 

East  (Third)  Ward,  at  the  house  of  J.  Wallace,  Fifth 
street,  between  Wood  and  Smithfield  streets,  when  Walter 
Forward,  Thomas  Fairman,  W.  H.  Lowrie,  J.  R.  Speer, 
M.  D.,  John  Arthur,  Benjamin  Bakewell,  were  elected 
directors. 

North  (Fourth)  Ward,  at  the  house  of  Allen  Browne,  at 
the  Allegheny  Bridge,  when  A.  Way,  George  Grant,  S. 
Colwell,  Z.  W.  Remington,  B.  Darlington,  O.  Metcalf,  were 
elected  directors. 

[  322  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

These  ward  meetings  were  also  held  looking  toward  the 
proclamation  of  the  sheriff  "  to  elect  school  directors." 
William  Lecky  ordered  these  elections  to  take  place  on  the 
third  of  September. 

The  directors  of  the  North  Ward  rented  an  old  frame 
house  on  the  corner  of  Seventh  street  (then  Irwin)  and 
Duquesne  Way,  and  employing  Mr.  G.  F.  Gilmore,  the  first 
common  school  was  inaugurated  with  five  pupils.  This 
ward  school  continued  and  grew.  A  school  building  was 
erected  on  the  same  street,  near  Penn,  which  was  occupied 
in  1838,  and  used  until  1847,  when  it  was  burned;  the 
directors  then  purchased  a  lot  on  the  corner  of  Penn  avenue 
and  Cecil  alley  and  erected  a  new  school  building  in  1848, 
which  continued  in  use  until  the  school  was  removed  to  the 
new  school  house  on  the  corner  of  Duquesne  Way  and 
Eighth  street. 

The  Southward  board  opened  the  next  school  in  "  Hyde's 
Carpet  Factory,"  on  the  site  of  the  Monongahela  House,  un- 
der the  supervision  of  J.  B.  D.  Meeds,  September  eleventh, 
1835.  Seventy-three  scholars  were  registered  during  the 
school  year  of  1835-36.  In  1841  a  new  brick  school  was 
built,  three  stories  in  height,  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
Fourth  avenue  and  Ross  street.  This  was  the  first  per- 
manent home  of  the  ' '  Old  South  School, ' '  having  first  been 
lodged  in  a  carpet  factory,  and  then  in  a  chair  factory  pre- 
viously occupied  by  Henry  Bears.  The  school  continued  to 
increase,  and  in  1850,  the  directors  erected  a  new  building 
on  the  comer  of  Ross  and  Diamond  streets. 

The  directors  of  the  West  Ward  purchased  from  the 
county  on  Ferry  street,  between  Fourth  avenue  and  Liberty 
street,  a  building  which  had  been  intended  for  a  "  Free 
School,"  and  put  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Creighton  in  charge  earlj^ 
in  1836.  This  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  property 
purchased  by  a  school  board  in  Pittsburgh  under  the  Act 
of  1834,  The  building  became  inadequate,  and  in  1850,  a 
new  one  was  built  between  Second  and  First  avenues,  Short 
and  Liberty  streets. 

The  East  Ward  board  of  directors  determined  to  erect 
a  three-story  brick  school  house  on  the  hill,  near  the  old 
water  basin,  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Diamond  and  Scrip 
alleys.    This  school  was  opened  on  the  fifth  of  December, 

[  323  ] 


THE   HISTORY    OF   PITTSBURGH 

1836,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whittier,  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  in 
charge.  Mr.  Whittier  received  eight  hundred  dollars  per 
annum,  and  Mrs.  Whittier  four  hundred.  In  1850  this 
school  outgrew  its  building,  and  the  present  edifice  was 
erected  on  the  corner  of  Grant  street  and  Strawberry  alley. 

In  1835  an  additional  sum  of  $8,800,  at  the  rate  of  two 
mills  upon  each  dollar,  was  laid  upon  the  taxable  inhabitants 
of  Pittsburgh  to  establish  "  a  general  system  of  education 
by  common  schools." 

During  the  first  active  year  of  public  schools  in  Pitts- 
burgh, 1836,  the  property  consisted  of  four  small  buildings, 
in  which  ten  teachers  endeavored  to  instruct  about  a  thou- 
sand scholars. 

Throughout  the  State  there  was,  during  the  year  after 
the  passing  of  the  Common  School  Bill,  a  strong  agitation 
to  repeal  it,  and  a  petition  with  many  names  and  marks  at- 
tached was  actually  presented  to  the  Legislature,  but  the 
Hon.  Thaddeus  Stevens,  to  whom  the  State  will  always  be 
indebted  for  his  staunch  adherence  to  the  common  school 
system,  in  a  single  speech  defeated  the  counter-movement, 
and  the  new  system  was  thus  given  license  to  struggle  on. 

Though  absolute  harmony  did  not  exist  on  all  the  Boards 
of  Directors,  and  the  newspapers  of  the  day  spoke  of  dila- 
toriness,  the  Mercury,  of  February  twenty-first,  1838,  pub- 
lished the  following  statistics : 

ii-  Pittsburgh  Public  Schools. 

a  There  are  eighteen  teachers  and  twelve  Public  Schools 
in  the  City  of  Pittsburgh ;  five  for  males  alone,  and  five  for 
females ;  one  Infant  School  for  children  of  both  sexes ;  and 
one  African  School  where  both  sexes  receive  instructions. 
There  is  in  all  an  average  daily  attendance  of  1,420.  The 
average  cost  per  scholar  in  daily  attendance  is  $5.27  per 
annum  —  average  number  of  pupils  to  each  teacher  sev- 
enty-nine; average  salary  of  teachers  is  $416.00  per  an- 
num. ' ' 

However,  scarcely  a  year  passed,  after  the  State's  pro- 
vision for  Public  Schools,  without  adding  a  new  school 
district  or  subs-district.  The  city,  during  this  decade,  ex- 
panded, and  as  new  wards  were  added  schools  were  located 

[  324  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

in  them.  As  experience  was  gained  from  the  practice  of  the 
Common  Schools  system  under  the  Act  of  1834,  it  was 
found  to  be  advantageous  to  amend  this  law  considerably, 
which  was  done  by  the  Legislature  in  the  session  of  1854-55. 
The  greatest  gain  to  the  system  through  this  Act  was 
the  creating  of  the  office  of  county  superintendent,  and 
for  the  Pittsburgh  schools,  the  uniting  of  the  separate  wards 
into  a  School  District.  Until  this  time  each  ward  had  been 
entirely  independent;  this  had  caused  serious  difficulties, 
as  in  the  most  populous  wards  the  taxpayers  were  least 
able  to  pay,  and  their  taxes  were  heaviest. 

Section  one,  of  this  bill,  erects  every  borough  and  town- 
ship into  a  school  district. 

The  second  section  relates  to  the  regulation  of  property 
where  different  wards  in  the  city  or  boroughs  may  wish  to 
consolidate. 

The  twenty-second  authorizes  directors  to  borrow  money 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  school  houses. 

The  twenty-third  authorizes  directors  to  establish  a  suf- 
ficient number  of  schools  for  the  education  of  all  who  may 
apply,  over  five  and  under  twenty-one.  To  purchase  ground 
and  erect  suitable  buildings.  To  employ  teachers  and  direct 
what  branches  shall  be  taught  in  each  school,  and  what  books 
used.  To  establish  schools  of  different  grades.  To  estab- 
lish separate  schools  for  colored  children;  wherever  such 
schools  can  be  located  as  to  accommodate  twenty  or  more 
pupils.  To  meet  immediately  after  annual  elections,  to 
decide  upon  the  series  of  school  books;  county  superin- 
tendents or  school  directors  not  to  become  agents  or  in 
any  way  to  promote  the  sale  of  school  books,  maps,  etc., 
under  penalty  of  fine  and  imprisonment. 

The  twenty-eighth  section  requires  directors,  on  or  be- 
fore the  first  Monday  in  May,  to  fix  the  amount  of  school 
tax,  sufficient  with  the  school  appropriation,  to  keep  the 
schools  in  operation  not  less  than  four  nor  more  than  ten 
months  each  year. 

The  thirty-seventh  provides :  That  there  shall  be  chosen, 
in  the  manner  hereinafter  directed,  an  officer  for  each 
county,  to  be  called  the  county  superintendent.  It  shall 
be  his  duty  to  visit  as  often  as  practicable  the  several 
schools  of  his  county,  and  to  note  the  course  and  method 

[  325  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

of  instruction  and  branches  taught,  and  to  give  such  direc- 
tions in  the  art  of  teaching  and  the  method  thereof  in  each 
school,  as  to  him,  together  with  the  directors  or  controllers, 
shall  be  deemed  expedient  and  necessary;  so  that  each 
school  shall  be  equal  to  the  grade  for  which  it  was  estab- 
lished, and  that  there  may  be,  as  far  as  practicable,  uni- 
formity in  the  course  of  studies  in  schools  of  the  several 
grades  respectively. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  superintendent  to  see  that  in 
every  district  there  shall  be  taught,  orthography,  reading, 
writing,  English  grammar,  geography,  and  arithmetic;  as 
well  as  such  other  branches  as  the  board  of  directors  or 
controllers  may  require.  In  case  the  board  of  directors  or 
controllers  shall  fail  to  provide  competent  teachers  to  teach 
the  several  branches  above  specified,  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  county  superintendent  to  notify  the  board  of  direct- 
ors or  controllers,  in  writing,  of  their  neglect,  and  in  case 
provision  is  not  made  forthwith  for  teaching  the  branches 
aforesaid,  to  report  such  fact  to  the  Superintendent  of 
Common  Schools,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  withhold  any 
warrant  for  the  quota  of  such  district  of  the  annual  State 
appropriation,  until  the  county  superintendent  shall  notify 
liim  that  competent  teachers  of  the  branches  aforesaid  have 
been  employed.  And  in  case  of  neglect  or  refusal  of  the 
board  of  directors  or  controllers  to  employ  such  competent 
teachers,  as  aforesaid,  for  one  month  after  such  notification 
by  the  county  superintendent  that  such  teachers  have  not 
been  provided,  such  district  shall  forfeit  absolutely  its 
whole  quota  of  the  State  appropriation  for  that  year. 

The  county  superintendents  were  elected  for  three 
years.  The  first  superintendent  of  Allegheny  county, 
James  M.  Pryor,  was  paid  one  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 
In  1867  an  act  empowered  cities  and  towns  of  not  less  than 
ten  thousand  inhabitants  to  elect  superintendents.  George 
J.  Lucky  was  elected  in  May,  1868,  and  served  continuously 
until  June,  1899,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Samuel  An- 
drews. This  act  has  been  amended  repeatedly  to  meet  the 
various  exigencies  of  the  school  system. 

Under  the  new  law  a  Central  Board  of  Education  was 
constituted  by  the  selection  of  one  director  from  each  ward. 
The  first  meeting  was  held  on  the  twentieth  of  February, 

[  326  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

1855,  in  the  Fourth  (North)  Ward  School  House.  John  D. 
Bell  represented  the  First  ward;  Reuben  Miller,  Jr.,  the 
Second;  Samuel  M.  Kier,  the  Third;  Robert  E.  McGowin, 
the  Fourth;  William  McCague,  the  Fifth;  James  Lowry, 
Jr.,  the  Sixth;  William  Arthurs,  the  Seventh;  William  H. 
Everson,  the  Eighth,  and  William  Varnum,  the  Ninth.  Mr. 
McGowin  served  as  President,  Joseph  W.  Jarvis,  Secretary, 
and  Reuben  Miller,  Jr.,  as  Treasurer.  The  first  work  of 
the  new  Board  was  the  organization  of  the  Pittsburgh 
Central  High  School.  Ten  rooms  in  a  building  on  Smith- 
field  street,  opposite  the  old  Custom  House,  were  secured, 
and  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  September,  1855,  there  were 
admitted,  after  examination,  one  hundred  and  fourteen 
scholars,  and  the  High  School  commenced.  The  Rev.  Jacob 
L.  G.  McKown  was  Principal,  and  was  assisted  by  three 
teachers,  Philotus  Dean,  William  M.  Dickson,  and  Mary 
Maitland.  These  rooms  were  poorly  arranged  and  warmed, 
badly  lighted  and  ventilated,  but  they  were  used  for  thir- 
teen years;  then  the  Board  rented  six  rooms  in  the  new 
Bank  of  Commerce  Building,  on  Wood  street  and  Sixth 
avenue.  The  necessity  for  a  building  for  the  High  School, 
though  conceded  by  some  of  the  wards,  was  not  by  others, 
and,  indeed,  for  some  years  the  very  existence  of  the  institu- 
tion seemed  precarious.  But  Professor  Dean,  who  had 
taken  the  principalship  in  1859,  in  spite  of  embarrassments 
in  quarters  and  the  financial  difficulties,  carried  it  on 
bravely.  The  city  councils  granted  the  Central  Board  of 
Education  a  lot  on  Fulton  street,  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  feet,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  on  Bedford  avenue,  in 
July,  1864.  Professor  Dean  again  urged  the  Board  to 
recognize  the  need  for  a  school  building.  Finally  a  Build- 
ing Committee  was  appointed;  Messrs.  Harrison,  Aiken, 
Mayo,  Taylor,  and  Craig.  The  contracts  were  let  and  the 
foundation  stone  laid  with  great  ceremony  on  Thanksgiv- 
ing Day,  1869,  and  two  years  later  the  building  was  dedi- 
cated with  equal  ceremony  and  opened  for  use.  The  cost 
is  estimated  at  about  $190,706.81. 

The  increase  and  growth  of  the  schools  is  best  appre- 
ciated by  a  tabulated  statement  comparing  the  school  sys- 
tem of  Pittsburgh  since  its  consolidation,  in  1855,  to  the 
year  1875. 

[  327  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 


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[  328  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

In  1875  the  total  tax  levied  for  school  purposes  by  the 
Central  Board,  and  for  building  purposes  by  the  sub- 
district  Boards,  amounted  to  $606,929.76.  The  total  ex- 
pended for  all  purposes  amounted  to  $751,534.10,  including 
the  items  of  salaries  of  superintendent  and  teachers,  pur- 
chase of  ground,  building,  payment  of  floating  debt,  in- 
terest, furniture  and  supplies,  insurance,  gas  and  water 
taxes,  care  of  properties,  improvements,  payment  on 
bonded  debt,  etc.,  etc.  At  this  time  the  bonded  indebtedness 
amounted  to  $840,147.78,  the  floating  indebtedness  to  $25,- 
790.27,  and  the  value  of  school  property  to  $1,874,900. 


Statement. 

Showing  the  Mnrollmerit  and  Attendance  in  the  Several  School 
Departments,  Numher  of  Teachers  Employed  for  the  Tear 
Ending  August  31,  1900. 


Pupils 

—Average  Monthly 
Enrollment. 

Pupils  —  Average 
Daily  Attendance. 

Teachers 

Employed  at 

Close  of  Term. 

DISTRICTS. 

■6 

ID 

II 

a 

i 

i 

1 
o 

Eh 

S 
1^ 

u 

S 

i 

u 
O 

■i 
I 

a 

a 

g 
< 

•3 

a 
'o 
a 

o 
H 

Allen    

1,084 

660 

559 

725 

1,073 

459 

157 

1,523 

1,102 

897 

657 

2,578 

1,823 

1,102 

1,805 

1,386 

536 

601 

2,162 

2,003 

1,016 

8,200 

251 

1,722 

997 

1,.571 

1,746 

330 

2,921 

511 

795 
435 
478 
535 
639 
388 
138 

1,005 
778 
613 
387 

1,777 

""""784 
1,364 

915 

425 

4.55 
1,524 
1,497 

711 
1,728 

243 
1,219 

690 
1,206 
1.272 

252 
2,161 

478 

190 
88 
90 
84 
164 
23 
28 
272 
190 
156 

410 
1,586 
177 
195 
230 

.52 

68 
396 
368 
196 
212 
8 
259 
139 
205 
194 

20 
373 

36 

985 

523 

568 

619 

803 

410 

166 

1,277 

968 

769 

433 

2,187 

1,586 

961 

1,559 

1,145 

477 

523 

1,920 

1,865 

907 

1,940 

251 

1,478 

829 

1,411 

1,466 

272 

2,. 534 

514 

709 
385 
392 
508 
576 
310 
118 
855 
721 
531 
315 
1,545 

"""679 
1,253 

868 

386 

391 
1,347 
1,347 

641 
1,508 

208 
1,079 

611 
1,078 
1,181 

227 
1,923 

360 

176 

80 

76 

82 

154 

20 

26 

250 

176 

142 

42 

374 

1,496 

161 

179 

218 

48 

63 

365 

285 

181 

194 

6 

241 

128 

185 

183 

18 

359 

32 

885 

465 

468 

590 

730 

330 

144 

1,105 

897 

673 

357 

1,919 

1,496 

840 

1,432 

1,086 

434 

454 

1,712 

1,632 

822 

1,702 

214 

1,320 

739 

1,263 

1.364 

245 

2.282 

392 

19 

10 
12 
13 
10 

4 

21 
19 
13 

7 
38 

"19 
30 
24 

9 
10 
37 
34 
18 
34 

5 
26 
14 
28 
27 

5 
46 
10 

5 

3 

2 

3 

8 

4 

1 

7 

6 

4 

2 

14 

63 

5 

9 

6 

2 

3 

11 

10 

5 

11 

1 

5 
6 
8 

1 
15 
2 

J 
1 

25 

Bedford 

14 

15 

17 

Brushton     

19 

Colfax  

]J 

Duquesne 

6 

Forbes          

29 

Franklin 

26 

Grant            

18 

10 

Hiland      

53 

High 

64 

Homewood 

25 

Howard 

40 

Humboldt 

31 

Knox 

12 

Lawrence 

14 

Liberty .     . 

49 

Lincoln 

45 

Luckey  

24 

Minersville 

Monongahela 

46 

7 

Moorhead 

34 

Morse. 

20 

Mt.  Albion          

36 

Mt.  Washington 

North      .    .            

36 

7 

Oakland   

62 

O'Hara 

18 

[  329  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 


Statement  Showing  the  Enrollment  and  Attendance,  Etc. — 

{Continued). 


PCPILS 

— Avkragk  Monthly 

Enrollment. 

Pupils  —  Avebagb 
Daily  Attendance. 

Teachbbs 

Employed  at 

Globe  of  Term. 

districts. 

s 
S 

a 
s 

c3 
u 

o 

1 

B 

p-l 

1,619 
156 
288 
141 
291 
250 
342 
706 
396 

1,070 
407 
795 

a 

i 

C3 

"3 

a 

PL. 

OS 

a 
a 

5 

4 

3 
a 

'u 

•a 

1 

Peebles 

2,325 
213 
492 
221 
449 
442 
517 

1,163 
577 

1,899 
686 

1,125 

1,778 
184 
324 
156 
331 
293 
369 
802 
419 

1,245 
455 

1,058 

358 

25 

10 
58 
52 

95 
123 

75 

292 

78 

2,036 
184 
349 
166 
389 
345 
464 
925 
494 

1,537 
533 

1,058 

246 

23 

10 
52 
47 
88 
114 
68 
260 
71 

1,865 
156 
311 
151 
343 
297 
430 
820 
464 

1.330 
478 
795 

37 

""6 
3 

8 
7 
8 
18 
8 
28 
10 
44 

11 

""2 
1 
2 
1 
3 

6 
3 

10 
3 

8 
5C 

49 

Practice  School 

Ralston 

1 
9 

S 

South           

11 

Springfield    

9 

Sterrett 

12 

St.  Clair 

25 

12 

Washington           

39 

14 

45 

Supervisors  and  Special 

8 

46,286 

39,736 

726 

271 

Total        

32,206 

7,530 

28,513 

6,899 

35.412 

1,047 

STATISTICAL  EEPORT  FOR  THE  YEAR  ENDING 

June  SOtlh  1900. 


Statement  A.  —  General  Information. 

Population  of  city  in  1900 321,616 

Assessed  value  of  real  and  personal  property $322,255,364  00 

Statement  B.  —  Buildings. 

Number  of  High  School  Buildings 3 

Number  of  Sub-District  School  Buildings 79 

Total 82 

Statement  C.  —  Districts  and  Directors. 

Number  of  Sub-School  Districts 39 

Number  of  Members  of  Central  Board  of  Education 39 

Number  of .  Sub-District  Directors 234 

Statement  D.  —  Teachers. 
High  School 64 

Academic  Department. 

Males  (including  Principal) 15 

Females 17 

[   330  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

Commercial  Department. 

Males  5 

Females 11 

Normal  Department. 

Males  3 

Pemales 13 

Practice  School. 

Females 1 

Sub-District  Schools  — 

Males  27 

Females 878 

Special  Teachers. 

Males  (Music  Supervisors) 2 

Females  (Teachers  in  School  Kitchen) 3 

Females  (Teachers  in  Sloyd) 2 

Female  (Drawing  Supervisor) 1 

Total 978 


Statement  E.  —  Pupils. 

Pupils  admitted  to  High  Schools 1,823 

Pupils  admitted  to  Sub-District  Schools 43,318 

Pupils  admitted  to  Kindergartens 1,125 

Total 46,266 


Sex. 

Males  admitted  to  all  schools 22,977 

Females  admitted  to  all  schools 23,289 

Average  Monthly  Enrollment. 

High  Schools 1,586 

Sub-District  Schools  37,092 

Kindergartens    1,058 

Total 39,736 


Average  Daily  Attendance. 

High  Schools 1,496 

Sub-District  Schools   33,121 

Kindergartens    795 


Total 35,412 

[   331   ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Statement  F.  —  Finances. 
Receipts. 

Balance  on  hand  from  last  year $347,859  29 

Amount  received  from  taxation 1,101,934  30 

Amount  of  state  appropriation 220,858  15 

Amount  received  from  sale  of  bonds 364,167  28 

Amount  received  from  sale  of  property 6,666  00 

Amount  received  from  interest 3,824  42 

Amount  received  from  other  sources 72,586  84 


i,ll7,906  28 


Expenditures. 

The  expenditures  are  divided  into  Special,  General  and  Salaries  for 
convenience.  Items  under  the  head  of  General  and  Salaries  (ex- 
cepting for  kindergartens)  being  taken  only  in  estimating  the 
annual  cost  per  capita. 

Special. 

For  purchase  of  ground $9,025  00 

For  building 346,165  09 

For  payment  of  bonded  debt 84,500  00 

For  payment  of  floating  debt 32,859  20 

For  payment  of  interest 69,561  86 

For  payment  of  rent 1,005  20 

For  permanent  improvements 55,861  04 

For  paving  and  grading 6,524  34 

For  furniture 12,293  90 


Total $617,795  63 


General. 

For  repairing $45,364  11 

For  fuel 21,751  48 

For  water  5,304  90 

For  record  books,  stationery  and  printing 9,868  24 

For  gas   7,999  90 

For  general  supplies 19,290  03 

For  apparatus   5,150  41 

For  insurance 7,565  62 

For  other  purposes 43,065  89 

For  text  books 60,271  86 

For  pupils'  supplies 17,369  32 

Total $243,001  76 

[  332  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

Salaries. 

For  Teachers'  Salaries,  day  school $634,028  01 

For  Janitors'  Salaries  and  house-cleaning 83,523  98 

For  Secretaries'  and  Treasurers'  Salaries 10,408  18 

For  Superintendent's  Salary 3,999  96 

For  Supervisors  of  Music 3,000  00 

For  Kindergartens   17,450  00 

For  Clerk  Hire 1,000  00 

For  Supervisor  of  Drawing 1,250  00 

For  Salary  of  Assistant  Secretary 1,500  00 

For  Salary  of  Teachers  in  School  Kitchen 3,000  00 

For  Salary  of  Teachers  in  Sloyd  School 1,500  00 

Total $760,660  13 

Balance  on  hand $496,448  76 


Statement  G.  —  Cost  Per  Capita. 

Estimated  on  the  number  admitted $21  84 

Estimated  on  the  average  monthly  enrollment 25  49 

Estimated  on  the  average  daily  attendance 28  48 


In  the  legal  status  of  the  Pennsylvania  public  school 
system  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  constitutes  an  Independent 
School  District,  composed  of  thirty-nine  sub-districts, 
which,  generally  speaking,  coincide  with  the  thirty-eight 
municipal  wards.  Each  sub-district  is  administered  by  a 
board  of  six  directors,  two  of  whom  are  annually  elected. 
This  board  levies  the  local  taxes,  elects  the  teachers,  pur- 
chases the  grounds,  has  power  to  erect  school  buildings, 
and  to  provide  all  school  equipment,  and  to  perform  all 
the  duties  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  a  school,  except 
paying  the  teachers  and  providing  the  pupils  with  text- 
books, stationery,  etc. 

The  Central  Board  of  Education  is  composed  of  thirty- 
nine  members,  one  elected  every  three  years  by  each  of  the 
sub-districts,  who  may  or  may  not  be  a  member  of  a 
sub-district  board.  This  board  manages  all  disburse- 
ments, selects  the  courses  of  studies  for  all  schools  and  High 
Schools,  maintains  the  manual  training,  and  other  auxil- 
iary schools,  supplies  books  and  stationery  to  the  pupils, 

[  333  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

and  its  accounts  are  submitted  to  the  City  Councils  and 
must  be  paid  by  their  order. 

The  Superintendent  of  Schools  is  the  Head  of  the  school 
system  and  is  elected  every  three  years  by  the  sub-district 
directors. 

The  Director  of  High  Schools  is  at  the  head  of  the  High 
School  and  is  elected  annually  by  the  Central  Board. 

The  school  Principal  is  elected  by  the  directors  of  each 
sub-district  and  is  at  the  head  of  the  schools  of  each  sub- 
district.  Assistant  Principals  are  elected  in  each  sub-dis- 
trict. 

The  Course  of  Study  in  the  public  schools  is  j&xed  by  the 
Central  Board ;  it  comprises  twelve  years. 

The  first  four  Primary  years  and  the  second  four  Gram- 
mar years  constitute  the  eight  years'  course  of  the  sub- 
district  schools.  The  third  four  years,  or  the  9th,  10th, 
lltli,  and  12th,  constitute  the  High  School  Course. 

The  High  Schools  are  domiciled  in  three  buildings: 

1.  The  Central  High  School  Building.  Corner  of  Ful- 
ton and  Bedford  streets,  completed  in  1891. 

2.  The  Fifth  Avenue  High  School  Building.  Corner 
of  Fifth  avenue  and  Miltenberger  street,  completed  in  Jan- 
uary, 1896. 

3.  The  South  Side  High  School  Building.  Corner  of 
Carson  and  South  Tenth  streets,  completed  in  August,  1898. 

The  High  School  Course  includes  four  elective  courses : 

1.  The  Classical  Course,  four  years. 

2.  The  General  Course,  four  years. 

3.  The  Normal  Course,  four  years. 

4.  The  Commercial  Course,  three  years. 

In  the  Central  High  School  Building  are  maintained 
the  Classical  Course,  the  General  Course,  the  first  two  years 
of  the  Normal  Course,  and  the  first  year  of  the  Commercial 
Course. 

In  the  South  Side  Building  are  maintained  the  first  three 
years  of  the  General  Course,  the  first  two  years  of  the 
Classical  and  Normal  Courses,  and  the  first  year  of  the 
Commercial  Course. 

In  the  Fifth  Avenue  Building  are  the  Central  Board 
Booms,  the  ofiices  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Central  Board  of 

[  334  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

Education,  the  offices  of  the  City  Superintendent,  the 
Director  of  High  Schools,  and  the  Supervisors  of  Music  and 
Draiving. 

Extracting  from  the  Thirty-fifth  and  Thirty-sixth  Annual 
Reports  of  the  City  Superintendent  of  Schools,  great  im- 
provements may  be  noted,  but  the  Superintendent  assures 
the  public  that  more  important  improvements  must  be 
made,  that  much  is  needed  to  keep  the  schools  abreast  with 
the  movement  of  the  times,  which  is  distinctly  educational. 

Two  beautiful  and  thoroughly  equipped  school  buildings 
have  been  completed  in  the  Sterrett  District,  the  Twenty- 
second  Ward,  during  the  last  year.  These  buildings  comply 
with  all  the  modern  ideas  of  beauty  as  well  as  of  service. 
The  corridors  are  of  marble,  and  some  of  the  windows  in 
the  halls  are  of  beautiful  stained  glass,  and  the  best  known 
systems  of  ventilating  and  heating  have  been  utilized,  and 
surely  this  is  a  great  change  from  the  little  school  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gilmore  opened  with  an  average  attendance  of  five 
pupils. 

There  is  much  need  for  manual  training  in  the  schools. 
The  Carnegie  Technical  Schools  cannot  possibly  do  this  for 
all  the  boys  and  girls  who  need  and  desire  such  training. 
It  is  generally  agreed  in  the  cities  or  the  districts  where  a 
thorough  manual  training  has  had  a  sufficient  trial,  that 
the  intelligence  of  the  community  is  visibly  affected. 
Toledo,  Ohio,  established  manual  training  in  her  high 
schools  twenty  years  ago  and  the  effect  is  marked  on  all  the 
men  and  women  who  handle  the  trades  of  the  community. 
The  extension  of  this  work,  however,  is  going  rapidly  for- 
ward in  Pittsburgh.  The  manual  training  desirable  in  the 
schools  should  include  all  forms  of  "  hand  expression," 
such  as  writing,  drawing,  painting,  cutting,  raffia,  sewing, 
cooking,  wood,  iron,  and  other  work  with  materials,  and 
it  is  perfectly  true,  as  the  Superintendent  declares,  that 
'*  it  should  be  so  adjusted  to  the  scholastic  work  as  to  pro- 
vide all  laboratory  work  established  in  the  schools  to  illus- 
trate, demonstrate,  and  concrete  all  scholastic  instruction. 
It  should  not  be  allowed  to  settle  down  as  a  thing  by  itself, 
disconnected  and  walled  out  from  the  regular  exercises  of 
the  school." 

[  335  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

The  free  Kindergartens  of  the  Pittsburgh  school  are  an 
integral  and  important  department.  Since  1893  thirty-five 
Kindergartens  have  been  established  and  directed  in  Pitts- 
burgh, besides  many  other  in  Allegheny,  Sewickley,  and 
Edgewood  Park.  This  work  was'  begun  in  1892  and  is 
directed  and  maintained  by  the  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny 
Free  Kindergarten  Association,  an  organization  composed 
of  the  prominent  women  of  this  vicinity.  Mrs.  James  I. 
Buchanan  is  President.  The  Vice-Presidents  are:  Mrs.  S. 
Jarvis  Adams,  Mrs.  John  M.  Patterson,  Mrs.  William  Mc- 
Cracken,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Edward  Bigelow;  Miss  Mary  E.  Bake- 
well,  Secretary;  Mrs.  Jarvis  Adams,  Treasurer;  with 
James  R.  Mellon,  General  Treasurer.  The  men  who  serve 
on  the  Advisory  Board  are:  J.  W.  Herron,  W.  R.  Thomp- 
son, Francis  J.  Torrence,  Samuel  Hamilton,  A.  B.  Burch- 
field,  D.  H.  Wallace,  H.  J.  Heinz,  J.  I.  Buchanan,  J.  R. 
Mellon,  S.  Jarvis  Adams,  and  John  A.  Brashear.  The  Hon- 
orary Directors  are:  Mrs.  William  K.  Gillespie,  Mrs. 
AVilliam  Frew,  and  Miss  Sarah  H,  Killikelly,  these  in  addi- 
tion to  a  board  of  fifteen  directors.  Under  this  management, 
beside  the  Kindergartens,  is  maintained  the  Kindergarten 
College,  one  of  the  most  thorough  in  the  country,  which, 
since  its  organization,  has  graduated  nearly  two  hundred 
trained  kindergartners.  There  is  no  philanthrophic  under- 
taking in  Pittsburgh  which  is  more  successful  or  more 
wisely  conducted  than  the  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny  Free 
Kindergarten  Association. 

The  ethical  and  moral,  as  well  as  the  physical  advantage 
of  playing  and  the  necessity  of  play,  have  come  to  be 
realized,  so  that  in  the  last  few  years  there  has  grown  up 
a  committee  to  superintend  ''  the  Pitsburgh  Playgrounds, 
Vacation  Schools,  and  Recreation  Parks."  The  General 
Chairman  is  Miss  Beulah  Kennard ;  Mrs.  J.  J.  Covert,  First 
Vice-Chairman ;  Miss  Eliza  D.  Armstrong,  Second  Vice- 
Chairman;  Miss  Jennie  D.  Bradley,  Secretary,  and  Mrs. 
Samuel  A.  Ammon,  Treasurer.  The  Central  Board  of  Edu- 
cation contributes  to  this  as  do  also  the  Pittsburgh  Councils, 
and  every  woman's  club  in  the  western  part  of  the  State 
has  taken  an  interest  in  this  work.  These  playgrounds, 
vacation  schools  and  recreation  parks  are  thoroughly  super- 

[  336  ] 


THE    SCHOOLS 

vised  by  a  corps  of  teachers  under  four  supervisors,  and 
much  may  be  expected  in  the  general  health  and  morality 
of  the  children  from  this  endeavor. 

There  are  ten  of  these  schools,  with  an  average  daily 
attendance  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy-nine, 
where  they  teach  carpentry,  basketry,  sewing,  cooking,  milli- 
nery, pottery,  nature  study,  music  —  that  is,  singing  —  and 
where  they  have  drills  and  games. 

The  real  growth,  the  absolute  progress  of  civilization, 
the  change  from  a  frontier  post,  subject  to  Indian  attack, 
through  the  various  gradations,  to  a  great  city,  from  its 
early  poverty  to  its  almost  too  great  prosperity,  is  best 
observed  in  the  beginning  and  growth  of  the  schools,  and 
the  relative  interest  taken  in  them  by  the  community. 

The  Public  School  System  will  make  its  next  great  leap 
in  actual  worth  when  it  is  removed  from  political  chicanery 
and  made  what  it  claims  to  be,  a  purely  educational  system, 
subject  only  to  the  laws  and  changes  which  will  develop  and 
enhance  its  usefulness,  helped  and  protected  by  the  State. 


22  [  337  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 


THE   CHURCHES 


A  history  of  the  churches  implies  at  once  a  history  of 
the  religious  and  perhaps  the  ethical  movements  of  the 
community.  A  simple  history  of  the  churches  would  mean 
endless  dates,  the  beginnings  of  foundations,  and  the  laying 
of  corner  stones,  and  dedications.  This  is,  of  course,  possi- 
ble but  exhaustive,  therefore  it  has  been  decided  that  it  is 
wise  to  attempt  to  give  only  the  history  of  some  churches. 
It  is  interesting  to  trace  the  history  of  the  first  congre- 
gations from  the  time  the  Penns  invested  them  with 
two  lots  and  a  half  apiece,  on  which  they  erected  small 
buildings  of  "  squared  timber,"  to  the  magnificent  and 
sumptuous  edifices  that  replace  them  to-day.  All  this  is 
growth,  but  it  is  a  question  if  it  is  a  growth  in  religion; 
however,  it  certainly  is  a  growth  in  churches,  from  the  three 
small  ones  in  the  beginning  to  the  hundreds  of  to-day. 

Some  of  the  early  travelers,  that  is,  the  very  early  trav- 
elers, found  the  village  of  Pittsburgh  to  be  a  place  of  little 
or  no  religious  inclination,  but  this  cannot  be  said  of  the 
Pittsburgh  of  the  last  hundred  years.  The  place  is  essen- 
tially Presbyterian.  This,  to  a  certain  extent,  has  in- 
fluenced the  other  Protestant  denominations,  but  it  is  the 
pre-eminent  Presbyterian  community  of  the  entire  country, 
as  evidenced  by  their  three  Theological  Seminaries,  and  by 
the  beauty  and  great  wealth  of  their  churches. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

First,  however,  came  the  Roman  Catholics,  because  they 
came  with  the  French  to  Fort  Duquesne.    The  first  religious 

[  338  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

service  in  what  is  now  the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  was  held  in 
the  year  1754,  by  the  Catholic  chaplain,  in  the  chapel  of 
Fort  Duquesne,  which  was  built  in  that  year  by  the  French, 
at  the  confluence  of  the  Allegheny  and  Monongahela  rivers. 
The  chapel  was  dedicated  under  the  title  of  ''  The  Assump- 
tion of  the  Blessed  Virgin  of  the  Beautiful  River."  In 
those  days,  and  for  long  afterwards,  the  Ohio,  on  account 
of  its  clear  water  and  rugged  scenery,  was  known  as  "  the 
Beautiful  River." 

There  is  preserved  in  the  archives  of  the  city  of  Montreal, 
a  register  of  baptisms  and  deaths  kept  by  the  army  chap- 
lain of  Fort  Duquesne,  from  which  we  learn  that  the  first 
interment  in  the  cemetery  of  the  Fort  was  that  of  Toussaint 
Boyer,  died  June  20th,  1754.  This  entry  is  signed  by  Friar 
Denys  Baron,  Recollect  Priest,  Chaplain. 

A  special  interest  attaches  to  the  name  of  this  mission- 
ary as  being  the  first  priest  to  offer  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of' 
the  Mass,  and  the  first  white  man  to  perform  a  public  act 
of  religious  worship  on  the  spot  where  the  city  of  Pitts- 
burgh now  stands.  His  name  was  Charles  Baron,  and  on 
entering  the  Recollect  Order,  he  took  the  name  of  Denys. 
The  register  of  baptisms  and  interments  which  took  place 
at  Fort  Duquesne  begins  July  11th,  1753,  and  ends  October 
10th,  1756.  The  records  previous  to  June,  1754,  are  from 
posts  occupied  by  the  French  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
Pennsylvania,  before  they  took  possession  of  the  spot  upon 
which  Fort  Duquesne  stood.  In  the  register  we  find  entries 
made  by  Fr.  Gabriel  Anheuser  and  Fr.  Luke  Collet,  but 
they  were  chaplains  from  other  French  forts ;  Father  Denys 
Baron  alone  signs  himself  chaplain  of  Fort  Duquesne. 

The  French  evacuated  the  fort  in  1758,  and  from  that 
time  until  1808,  the  Roman  Catholics  in  Pittsburgh  had  no 
resident  pastor. 

The  number  of  Catholics  prior  to  1800,  in  what  is  now 
Allegheny  county,  must  have  been  very  small.  They  were 
visited  occasionally  by  misisonaries  traveling  westward. 
Rev.  P.  Huet  de  la  Vilmiere,  Rev.  Ch.  Whalen,  Rev.  B.  J. 
Flaget,  Rev.  S.  Badin,  Rev.  M.  Barrieres,  Rev.  Wm. 
Founier,  Rev.  John  Thayer,  Rev.  D.  A.  Gallitzin,  Rev.  P. 
Heilbron,  and  one  or  two  other  priests,  ministering  to  a  few 

[  339  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

scattered  families,  celebrating  Mass  in  private  houses,  fill 
up  the  long  interval  between  the  chapel  of  the  * '  Assumption 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin  of  the  Beautiful  River  "  in  Fort 
Duquesne,  and  *'  Old  St.  Patrick's  "  Church,  which  was 
begun  in  1808. 

Rev.  Wm.  F.  X.  O'Brien,  the  first  pastor,  was  ordained 
in  Baltimore,  1808,  and  came  to  Pittsburgh  in  November  of 
the  same  year,  and  at  once  devoted  himself  to  the  erection 
of  the  building  which  is  known  in  the  history  of  the  diocese 
as  "  Old  St.  Patrick's."  It  stood  at  the  corner  of  Liberty 
and  Washington  streets,  at  the  head  of  Eleventh,  in  front 
of  the  Union  Station.  The  structure  was  of  brick,  plain  in 
design,  and  modest  in  size,  about  fifty  feet  in  length  and 
thirty  in  width.  Rt.  Rev.  Michael  Egan  dedicated  the 
church  in  August,  1811 ;  the  dedication  was  the  occasion  of 
the  first  visit  of  a  Bishop  to  this  part  of  the  State. 

Father  O'Brien  occupied  for  a  time,  after  his  arrival,  the 
second  story  of  a  frame  house  on  Second  avenue,  between 
Grant  and  Smithfield  streets.  The  front  room  was  used 
for  a  chapel;  a  German  tailor  had  the  first  floor.  During 
the  building  of  the  church,  he  said  Mass  in  other  places, 
one  of  which  was  a  stable  fitted  up  for  a  chapel.  In  this 
humble  way  did  the  first  pastor  lay  the  foundation  of  what 
is  now  the  great  Catholic  church  of  Pittsburgh. 

After  twelve  years  of  labor  and  exposure  on  the  mis- 
sions of  this  extensive  territory,  in  which  there  were,  per- 
haps, not  more  than  three  hundred  souls.  Father  O'Brien's 
health  began  to  decline,  and  in  March,  1820,  he  retired  to 
Maryland,  where  he  closed  his  laborious  career  on  the  Feast 
of  All  Saints,  1832. 

There  passed  away  within  recent  years,  a  venerable  old 
lady,  who  had  lived  a  long  life  within  the  limits  of  the 
Cathedral  parish.  She  remembered  the  building  of  old  St. 
Patrick's,  and  could  recall  many  incidents  in  the  pastorate 
of  Father  O'Brien.  His  farewell  sermon,  delivered  on  a 
Sunday  in  the  spring  of  1820,  was  one  of  the  strongest  im- 
pressions which  her  memory  carried  clear  and  unimpaired 
through  eighty  years  of  an  eventful  life. 

Rev,  Wm.  F.  X.  O'Brien  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Charles  Bonaventure  Maguire,  who  came  in  April,  1820. 

[  340  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

His  first  entry  in  the  church  register  is  under  date  of  May 
21st,  and  it  is  prefaced  with  a  note  in  his  own  handwriting, 
stating  that  he  was  born  in  Ireland,  is  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  St.  Francis  of  the  Strict  Observance,  and  was 
formely  Professor  of  Theology  in  the  College  of  St. 
Isidore,  at  Rome. 

Father  Maguire  enlarged  "  Old  St.  Patrick's  "  and  made 
other  changes  and  improvements,  to  meet  the  requirements 
of  the  growth  of  the  city  and  the  rapidly  increasing  Catho- 
lic population. 

Five  years  later,  Father  Maguire  conceived  the  idea  of 
erecting  a  new  and  larger  church,  a  building  on  which  he 
would  expend  all  the  energies  of  his  life,  and  which  would 
be  his  monument  to  future  generations.  A  committee  was 
selected,  and,  with  himself  as  president,  they  selected  lots 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  Grant  street  and  Fifth  avenue 
as  the  site  of  the  new  church. 

A  meeting  of  the  Catholics  of  Pittsburgh  was  called, 
August  27th,  1827,  to  consider  the  erection  of  the  new 
Church.  Father  Maguire  presided.  The  lots  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  Grant  street  were  selected ;  they  had  an  ele- 
vation of  about  twenty-five  feet  above  the  present  level  of 
Grant  street.  Work  was  soon  after  commenced  on  the 
foundation  of  the  proposed  Church,  the  hill  was  cut  down, 
in  view  of  the  future  grading  of  the  streets,  and  the  corner 
stone  was  laid  without  ceremony  by  Father  Maguire,  June 
24th,  1829.  It  was  a  great  work  and  necessarily  proceeded 
slowly.  Before  the  building  was  far  advanced,  the  zealous 
and  learned  pastor  was  called  to  his  reward,  July  17th, 
1833. 

During  his  pastorate  Father  Maguire  had  for  assistants 
Rev.  Anthony  Kenny,  Rev.  P.  Rafferty,  Rev.  A.  F.  Van  de 
Weyer,  Rev.  John  Grady,  Rev.  Thos.  Gegan,  and  finally. 
Rev.  John  0  'Reilly,  who  came  in  November,  1832,  and  suc- 
ceeded him  after  his  death. 

Rev.  Charles  Bonaventure  Maguire,  0.  S.  F.,  was  born 
near  Dungannon,  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  in  1768 ;  studied 
at  Louvain,  was  ordained  there,  and  served  on  the  missions 
in  the  Netherlands  and  Germany;  was  seized  in  France 
during  the  Reign  of  Terror,  and  narrowly  escaped  the  guil- 

[  341  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

lotine ;  was  professor  of  theology  in  Rome ;  came  to  America 
in  1817;  and  soon  after  reached  Sportsman's  Hall  (now  St. 
Vincent's  Abbey),  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  and  arrived 
in  Pittsburgh  in  iipril,  1820,  where  he  died  of  cholera,  July 
17th,  1833. 

' '  Fortunate, ' '  says  Father  A.  A.  Lambing,  in  his  history 
of  the  diocese,  "  was  it  for  the  unfinished  Church  of  St. 
Paul's  and  the  congregation,  that  Father  O'Reilly  succeeded 
Father  Maguire.  His  skill,  energy,  and  administrative 
ability  eminently  fitted  him  for  the  completion  of  so  im- 
portant an  undertaking.  Work  was  immediately  resumed 
on  the  unfinished  Church,  and  through  his  untiring  efforts 
it  was  ready  for  dedication  the  following  spring.  The  dedi- 
cation took  place  on  Sunday,  May  4th,  1834,  and  the  Church 
was  placed  under  the  invocation  of  St.  Paul  the  Apostle. 
Bishop  Kenrick  performed  the  ceremony,  Father  O'Reilly 
sang  the  Mass,  and  Rev.  John  Hughes,  afterwards  Arch- 
bishop of  New  York,  preached  the  sermon. ' ' 

The  first  St.  Paul's  fronted  on  Fifth  avenue.  The  follow- 
ing description  from  the  American  Manufacturer,  and  prob- 
ably furnished  by  the  architect,  Mr.  Kerrins,  gives  an  idea 
of  the  size  and  style  of  the  edifice : 

"  This  Church,  which  is  probably  the  largest  in  the 
United  States,  occupies  an  area  of  175  feet  in  length  by  76 
feet  in  width,  vestries  and  vestibules  included.  The  eleva- 
tion of  the  sidewalls  to  the  top  of  the  embattled  parapets 
by  which  they  are  surmounted  is  25  feet.  These  are  flanked 
by  26  buttresses,  finished  with  pediment  pinnacles  and 
crocketed  spires.  The  east  end  is  embellished  with  a  large 
ornamented  Gothic  window  in  the  centre,  flanked  by  two 
others  of  regular  but  diminished  proportions,  finished  at  the 
top  with  minoret  and  cross,  sprung  from  rampant  arches 
and  occupying  the  highest  point  of  the  gable  parapet.  The 
tower  stands  on  the  west  end,  and  is  immensely  strong, 
being  supported  by  four  buttresses  with  flying  terminals. 
It  is  yet  unfinished,  being  little  higher  than  the  comb  of  the 
roof."     (The  tower  was  never  finished.) 

' '  The  immense  superficies  is  enclosed  within  four  double 
doors  with  enriched  panels,  and  57  ornamental  windows, 
exhibiting   in   perfect   symmetry   the   florid    Gothic   style 

■  [  342  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

throughout.  The  Church  has  one  central  and  two  side 
aisles,  contains  240  pews,  which,  with  those  in  the  gallery, 
make  350,  giving  seating  capacity  for  1,500  or  1,800  per- 
sons. 

*'  There  are  16  columns  40  feet  high,  supporting  the  gal- 
leries. The  ceiling  is  Gotliic  and  neatly  frescoed.  The 
sanctuary  is  spacious  and  contains  a  splendid  high  altar, 
uniform  in  style  with  the  Church. ' ' 

This  splendid  edifice  was  erected  without  soliciting  aid 
from  abroad,  but  many  non-Catholics  contributed  liberally 
towards  it.  To  add  to  the  imposing  appearance  of  the 
Church,  it  occupied  such  a  position  as  to  be  the  first  object 
that  met  the  eye  of  a  person  approaching  the  city  from  any 
direction. 

Father  O  'Reilly  continued  to  exercise  the  office  of  pastor 
of  St.  Paul's  until  April  1st,  1837,  when  he  was  transferred 
to  Philadelphia,  and  Rev.  Thomas  Heyden,  of  Bedford,  Pa., 
took  his  place.  In  November  of  the  same  year  Father  Hey- 
den returned  to  Bedford,  and  Rev.  P.  R.  Kenrick,  the  late 
Archbishop  of  St.  Louis,  became  pastor  of  St.  Paul's.  In 
the  summer  of  1838  Father  O'Reilly,  who  was  then  pastor 
of  St.  Mary's  Church,  Philadelphia,  exchanged  places  with 
Father  Kenrick  and  returned  to  Pittsburgh.  He  remained 
until  succeeded  by  Very  Rev'd  Michael  0 'Conner,  June 
17th,  1841. 

Rev.  John  O'Reilly,  C.  M.,  deserves  to  be  ranked  with 
Father  Maguire  as  one  of  the  great  benefactors  of  the 
Church  in  Pittsburgh.  Born  in  Ireland,  in  the  year  1796,  he 
came  to  this  country  before  the  completion  of  his  studies 
and  entered  Mt.  St.  Mary's  College,  Emmittsburg,  where 
he  finished  his  course  of  studies  and  was  ordained  in  1826 
and  1827.  He  labored  on  the  missions  in  Huntingdon  and 
adjoining  counties,  erected  Churches  in  Huntingdon,  Bell- 
fonte,  and  Newry,  was  transferred  to  Pittsburgh  in  Novem- 
ber, 1832,  where  he  labored  zealously  for  religion,  educa- 
tion, and  charity.  He  left  Pittsburgh  in  1841,  on  the  arrival 
of  Father  O 'Conner,  and  traveled  to  Rome,  where  he  en- 
tered the  Congregation  of  the  Mission.  He  died  at  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  March  4th,  1862,  aged  66  years. 

Very  Rev.  Michael  O  'Conner,  Vicar-General  of  the  West- 

[  343  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

ern  part  of  the  diocese  of  Philadelphia,  arrived  in  Pitts- 
burgh June  17th,  1841,  to  succeed  Rev.  John  O'Reilly,  as 
pastor  of  St.  Paul's. 

The  congregation  had  grown  to  about  four  thousand 
souls,  and  the  pastor  was  assisted  by  Rev.  Joseph  F. 
Deane. 

However  successfully  the  affairs  of  St.  Paul's  had  been 
administered  previous  to  the  coming  of  Father  O'Connor, 
a  new  era,  not  only  for  the  congregation,  but  for  Catholicity 
in  Western  Pennsylvania,  began  with  the  year  1841. 

One  month  after  his  arrival  Father  O'Connor  undertook 
the  erection  of  a  parochial  school  house,  organized  a  lit- 
erary society  and  opened  a  reading  room  for  the  young  men 
of  the  city.  Like  the  Cathedral  Lyceum  Truth  Society  of 
the  present  day,  the  society  ' '  had  for  its  object  to  promote 
literary  improvement  in  its  members,  and  give  them  a  more 
thorough  acquaintance  with  history  and  Scripture  connected 
more  especially  with  the  development  of  Catholic  prin- 
ciples." 

St.  Paul's  School  buildings  were  finished  and  the  School 
opened  in  the  year  1844.  But  in  the  meantime,  the  Diocese 
of  Pittsburgh  had  been  formed,  August  7th,  1843,  and  the 
pastor  of  St.  Paul's,  Very  Rev.  M.  O'Connor,  was  conse- 
crated its  first  bishop,  at  Rome,  August  15th,  1843. 

From  the  consecration  of  Bishop  0 'Conner,  St.  Paul's 
Church  was  used  as  his  Cathedral,  and  Father  Joseph  F. 
Deane  continued  to  assist  him  in  his  duties  as  pastor  of  the 
congregation  until  June,  1847,  when  he  withdrew  to  Clarion 
county.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Jos.  M.  Lancaster,  who 
remained  until  September,  1848,  when  he  returned  to  his 
native  State,  Kentucky,  where  he  died  some  years  after- 
wards, Vicar-General  of  the  Diocese  of  Covington. 

He  was  followed  in  the  pastorate  of  St.  Paul's  by  Rev. 
James  O'Meally,  who  labored  faithfully  for  two  years,  and, 
in  April,  1850,  was  followed  by  Rev.  Edward  McMahon, 
who  was  destined  to  play  a  more  important  part  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  diocese  than  any  other  priest  had  done  since  the 
days  of  Father  O'Reilly.  Fathers  Joseph  F.  Deane,  Jos. 
M.  Lancaster,  and  Jas.  O'Meally  had  been  in  charge  of  St. 
Paul's  Congregation  for  too  short  a  time  to  undertake  and 

[  344  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

complete  any  work  of  unusual  importance  in  the  history  of 
the  parish. 

Father  McMahon  was  destined  to  remain  about  thirteen 
years  and  to  witness  many  changes  in  the  parish  and  in  the 
diocese. 

In  the  year  1844  the  first  episcopal  residence  was  erected 
for  the  Bishop  and  the  Priests  of  the  Cathedral. 

In  the  same  year  the  City  Council  passed  an  ordinance  to 
grade  down  the  streets  on  Grant's  Hill,  as  that  part  of  the 
city  on  whidi  the  Cathedral  stood  was  then  called.  It  was 
feared  that  the  foundations  of  the  Church  would  be  en- 
dangered, and  a  subscription  was  started  to  build  retaining 
walls  to  support  it.  In  the  year  1847  there  was  a  second 
grading  of  Grant  and  Fifth  Streets,  by  which  the  founda- 
tions of  St.  Paul's  were  irreparably  injured  and  the  ap- 
proach rendered  extremely  difficult.  When  the  grading 
was  completed  the  Church  stood  perched  on  a  mound  some 
twenty  feet  or  more  above  the  level  of  the  street,  and  flights 
of  stairs  were  necessary  to  enable  the  congregation  to  enter 
it. 

The  venerable  building  was  doomed.  This  history  of  the 
destruction  of  old  St.  Paul's  is  interesting  now,  when  the 
grading  of  the  same  streets  is  spoken  of  as  ' '  cutting  down 
the  hump. ' ' 

The  condition  of  the  building  became  daily  more  pre- 
carious and  finally  all  were  convinced  that  there  was  no 
alternative.  The  building  must  be  abandoned,  torn  down, 
the  lot  graded  and  a  new  Cathedral  erected. 

When  all  was  in  readiness  to  tear  down  the  ruined 
structure,  when  nearly  all  the  insurance  policies  had  been 
permitted  to  expire,  this  noble  monument  of  the  zeal,  en- 
ergy, and  taste  of  Father  Maguire  took  fire.  May  6th,  1851, 
and  was  entirely  destroyed. 

The  destruction  of  the  old  Cathedral  by  fire  hastened  the 
carrying  into  action  of  the  plans  for  the  new  building,  the 
corner  stone  of  which  was  laid,  with  appropriate  cere- 
monies, on  June  fifteenth,  1851,  within  six  weeks  after  the 
former  edifice  was  demolished.  This  structure  was  con- 
ceived in  a  truly  beautiful  style,  and  so  far  in  advance 
of  the  times  were  those  who  planned  the  work,  that  to  the 

[  345  ] 


THE   HISTORY    OF   PITTSBURGH 

day  it  was  torn  down  it  was  surpassed  in  beauty  and  fitness 
of  design  by  very  few  churcb  edifices  in  the  country.  I_  point 
of  size  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral  in  New  York  alone  exceeded 
it.  About  the  year  1851  the  ' '  Know  Nothing  ' '  party  took  its 
rise  and  displayed  considerable  activity  in  Pittsburgh, 
where  the  notorious  Joe  Barker  was  the  chief  instrument 
in  inflaming  the  animosity  and  fostering  the  prejudies  of 
the  populace.  The  resulting  anti-Catholic  feeling  and  the 
financial  depression  which  spread  throughout  the  country, 
at  the  same  time,  made  it  very  difficult  to  procure  funds  for 
so  costly  an  enterprise  as  the  building  of  the  Cathedral. 
The  energy  of  Bishop  0 'Conner  supplied,  in  some  measure, 
the  deficiency.  The  basement  was  finished  in  September, 
1852,  and  in  June,  1855,  the  edifice  was  dedicated.  The 
towers  were  not  added  until  fourteen  years  later,  and  the 
whole  superstructure  was  executed  in  brick  instead  of  cut 
stone,  as  specified  in  the  original  plans.  But  in  spite  of  the 
reduction  in  expense,  there  was,  until  it  was  sold,  a  debt 
upon  the  Cathedral. 

In  1853  the  Diocese  of  Pittsburgh  was  divided,  Erie  being 
the  title  of  the  new  See.  In  area  the  two  resulting  bish- 
oprics were  about  equal,  but  three-fourths  of  the  Catholic 
population  of  the  territory  was  resident  in  the  Pittsburgh 
Diocese.  At  the  time  of  the  division,  the  number  of  Catho- 
lics was  estimated  at  fifty  thousand,  twice  as  many  as 
formed  the  charge  of  Bishop  0 'Conner  on  his  accession 
nine  years  before.  Bishop  0 'Conner  was  transferred  to  the 
new  See,  and  became  the  first  Bishop  of  Erie ;  but  so  deep 
was  the  regret  felt  at  his  departure  and  so  necessary  was 
his  guiding  hand  to  the  success  of  the  many  works  set  on 
foot  by  him,  as  well  as  his  unfailing  zeal,  that,  at  the  earnest 
desire  of  the  people  and  clergy,  he  was  returned  to  Pitts- 
burgh and  was  succeeded  in  Erie  by  Bishop  Young.  The 
latter  was  Bishop-elect  of  Pittsburgh,  not  having  yet  been 
consecrated. 

In  the  year  1853  also  occurred  the  visit  of  the  Papal 
Nuncio,  Cardinal  Cajetan  Bedini.  The  Know  Nothing 
party  was  then  at  the  height  of  its  power,  and  the  Cardi- 
nal's carriage  was  stopped  near  St.  Patrick's  church  by  a 
crowd  of  agitators,  who,  however,  were  guilty  of  nothing 
more  dangerous  than  insulting  remarks. 

[  346  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

In  the  next  year  Bishop  0 'Conner  attended  the  ever- 
memorable  general  council,  in  which  the  dogma  of  the  Im- 
maculate Conception  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  was  de- 
clared to  be  de  fide,  and  it  is  said  that  some  suggestion  of 
his  with  regard  to  the  verbal  form  of  the  announcement  was 
adopted.  This,  however,  is  not  substantiated.  During  a 
subsequent  visit  to  Rome,  in  1857,  the  Bishop  purchased  for 
the  Cathedral  the  altar  piece  which  hung  so  many  years 
over  the  High  Altar. 

The  health  of  Bishop  0 'Conner,  severely  taxed  by  the 
requirements  of  his  office  and  by  his  own  zeal  in  laboring 
incessantly  for  the  good  of  his  people,  now  began  to  show 
signs  of  weakening,  and  from  this  time  until  1860,  when  he 
resigned  his  See,  he  was  often  unable  to  perform  his  accus- 
tomed duties.  He  entered  the  Society  of  Jesus,  which  had 
been  his  desire  when  he  was  called  upon  to  become  Pitts- 
burgh's first  bishop,  and,  after  twelve  years  of  labor  in  his 
Master's  vineyard,  he  was  called  to  his  reward.  His  grave 
is  in  the  cemetery  of  his  order  at  Woodstock,  Maryland. 

The  next  bishop  was  Michael  Domenec,  a  Spaniard  by 
birth,  and  a  member  of  the  Vincentian  (Lazarist)  congrega- 
tion. Soon  after  his  installment  the  Civil  War  broke  out. 
In  1862  Bishop  Domenec  made  his  first  visit  to  Rome,  and 
at  the  same  time  he  went  to  his  native  land.  The  govern- 
ment of  Spain  was  on  the  point  of  recognizing  the  Confed- 
eracy, but,  commissioned,  it  is  said,  by  our  government,  the 
Bishop  succeeded  in  averting  the  contemplated  step. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  a  period  of  material  prosperity 
set  in.  The  iron  industry  received  a  great  impetus,  and 
the  population  and  wealth  of  Pittsburgh  increased  propor- 
tionately. The  towers  of  the  Cathedral  were  completed 
according  to  the  original  plans,  in  1869,  and  a  new  resi- 
dence for  the  Bishop  and  the  priests  of  the  Cathedral  was 
designed  and  execcuted  on  a  magnificent  scale.  This  added 
to  the  debt  upon  the  property. 

In  1873  came  a  check  to  the  remarkable  business  activity 
which  had  followed  the  close  of  the  wai.  This,  as  usual, 
affected  the  temporalities  of  the  church  and  made  the  reduc- 
tion of  the  Cathedral  debt  extremely  difficult. 

The  year  1876  saw  an  unexpected  change  in  affairs.    The 

[  347  ] 


THE   HISTOEY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Bishop  visited  Rome  in  that  year,  and  the  Diocese  was 
divided.  Allegheny  became  the  new  episcopal  city,  and 
Bishop  Domenec  was  transferred  thither.  Very  Reverend 
John  Tuigg  of  Altoona  being  consecrated  Bishop  of  Pitts- 
burgh. The  division  of  the  Diocese  was  not  a  benefit  to 
the  Church.  The  boundary  line  was  so  drawn  as  to  leave 
the  burden  of  the  encumbrances  attached  to  the  Cathedral 
upon  the  parent  See,  while  the  Catholic  population  of  the 
latter  was  considerably  less  than  half  what  it  had  been. 

Another  year  had  scarcely  passed  before  measures  were 
taken  to  make  known  at  Rome  the  undesirability  of  the 
existing  state  of  affairs.  Upon  these  representations,  and 
after  due  deliberation,  the  Dioceses  of  Pittsburgh  and 
Allegheny  were  again  united  in  August,  1877,  and  have 
since  been  governed  as  one.  Bishop  Domenec  resigned  the 
See  of  Allegheny  in  July  of  the  same  year,  having  left  for 
Rome  in  the  spring.  He  later  visited  his  native  city,  and 
there  died  very  suddenly  of  pneumonia  in  January,  1878. 

The  period  of  Bishop  O'Connor's  rule  over  the  Diocese 
was  one  of  remarkable  growth  and  activity.  The  good 
Bishop  had  his  diocese  to  make,  so  to  speak,  and  he  brought 
to  the  task  great  natural  ability  and  much  learning,  but, 
above  all,  ''  the  zeal  of  God's  house  had  eaten  him  up." 
He  was  obliged  to  procure  his  own  priests,  the  number  at 
that  time  in  western  Pennsylvania  being  far  too  small  to 
meet  the  needs  of  the  people.  To  that  end  the  Bishop 
visited  Ireland  on  his  way  home  from  Rome  in  1843.  Eight 
theological  students  of  Maynooth  accompanied  Bishop 
O'Connor  to  America.  At  this  time  he  also  induced  seven 
Sisters  of  Mercy  to  come  to  Pittsburgh  to  teach  in  the 
parish  schools.  These  were  the  first  of  this  congregation 
to  establish  themselves  in  the  United  States.  The  first  com- 
munity Passionist  Fathers  and  the  first  Benedictine  mon- 
astery in  this  country  were  planted  in  this  diocese  by 
Bishop  O'Connor.  The  Redemptorists  and  the  Sisters  of 
Charity  were  the  only  religious  orders  in  western  Pennsyl- 
vania when  the  Diocese  of  Pittsburgh  was  erected.  The 
first  Catholics  of  Pittsburgh  were  Irish  and  German,  prin- 
cipally the  former,  and  were  few  in  number.  The  building 
of  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  and,  later  of  the  Pennsylvania 

[  348  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

railroad,  the  opening  of  public  roads  in  the  western  part 
of  the  State,  glass  manufacture  and  the  development  of 
the  iron  and  steel  industries,  which  have  to-day  at- 
tained such  gigantic  proportions,  caused  a  rapid  increase 
in  the  Catholic  population,  as  the  worlanen  employed  in 
these  enterprises  were  for  the  most  part  Irish  and  German 
immigrants.  In  later  years,  Poles,  Bohemians,  and  Italians 
have  entered  the  vicinity  in  large  numbers  and  form  no 
inconsiderable  portion  of  the  Catholic  inhabitants  of  Pitts- 
burgh. There  is  scarcely  a  Catholic  church  in  the  city 
without  its  parochial  school,  where  the  children  are 
grounded  in  the  truths  of  religion  and  in  the  rudiments  of 
secular  learning.  One-fourth  of  all  the  school  children  in 
Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny  attend  parish  schools.  In  many, 
many  cases  these  schools  are  absolutely  free,  being  sup- 
ported by  voluntary  contributions  of  parishioners ;  in  other 
cases  a  small  fee  is  asked  of  those  able  to  pay.  The 
Cathedral  led  the  van  in  the  matter  of  education.  Some 
eight  hundred  children  attended  its  schools,  which  were 
taught  by  the  Sisters  of  Mercy.  In  addition  to  the  parish 
schools,  where  the  common  branches  were  taught,  was  a 
high  school  which  prepared  pupils  for  a  business  career  or 
for  college.  A  night  school  was  added  later.  In  the  crypt 
of  the  Cathedral  was  the  Cathedral  Lyceum,  a  sort  of  club 
for  young  men.  This  contained  a  good  library,  a  gym- 
nasium with  hot  and  cold  baths  and  complete  exercising 
apparatus,  an  entertainment  hall  and  parlors.  The  Lyceum 
was  under  the  supervision  of  the  pastors  of  the  church, 
and  was  the  center  of  interest  for  the  young  men  of  the 
Cathedral. 

The  off-shoots  of  the  Cathedral  up  to  the  year  1878  were 
Bixteen  in  number,  and  included  churches  in  Allegheny,  on 
the  South  Side  and  in  Pittsburgh  proper.  Two  of  them 
were  for  the  colored  people,  one  has  been  abandoned  as 
unnecessary.  The  present  church  for  the  colored  people 
is  under  the  invocation  of  St.  Benedict  the  Moor,  and  is  on 
Overhill  street. 

Bishop  Tuigg,  who  assumed  charge  of  the  reunited  dio- 
ceses in  1877,  was  especially  fitted  to  cope  with  the  diffi- 
culties which  presented  themselves  at  that  time.    He  found 

[  349  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

the  Diocesan  institutions  and  property  burdened  by  a  debt, 
the  extent  of  which  was  not  even  correctly  known.  The 
Cathedral  was  heavily  encumbered  in  1877.  The  first  task 
of  the  new  Bishop  was  to  acquaint  himself  with  the  exact 
state  of  Diocesan  finances.  It  is  said  of  him  that  he  was 
able  to  state  from  memory  the  amount  to  the  cent  due  on 
every  piece  of  Diocesan  property.  Having  brought  order 
out  of  confusion,  his  next  step  was  towards  the  reduction 
of  the  load  under  which  his  people  labored.  He  succeeded 
in  liquidating  a  large  portion  of  the  debt,  freeing  all  in- 
stitutions except  the  Cathedral  and  Bishop's  house,  and 
this  without  loss  to  any  of  the  creditors.  The  debt  upon 
the  Cathedral  property  was  much  less  than  its  value,  which 
constantly  appreciated  during  the  last  fifteen  years. 

But  Bishop  Tuigg  spent  his  strength  m  the  cares  incum- 
bent upon  his  office.  The  weight  of  responsibility  and  his 
unceasing  and  arduous  labors  began  to  tell  upon  him  phy- 
sically as  early  as  1881,  when  he  was  the  victim  of  an 
attack  of  heart  disease.  Subsequently  he  was  twice  stricken 
with  paralysis.  During  the  last  few  years  of  his  life  he 
was  an  invalid,  and  spent  most  of  his  time  in  Altoona,  the 
scene  of  his  labors  as  parish  priest.  There  he  died  in 
1889,  after  rendering  services  to  his  people,  the  value  of 
which  cannot  be  overestimated. 

Right  Reverend  Richard  Phelan,  who  had  been  conse- 
crated Coadjutor  to  Bishop  Tuigg  in  1885,  succeeded  him, 
and  was  incumbent  of  the  See  until  December  twenty,  1904, 
when  he  died.  Bishop  Regis  J.  S.  Cenevin,  who  had  been 
consecrated  Coadjutor  February  twenty-fourth,  1903,  suc- 
ceeded as  Bishop  of  the  Diocese. 

In  the  past  twenty  years,  embracing  the  period  since 
the  publication  of  the  history  of  the  Diocese  by  Rev.  A.  A. 
Lambing,  the  chief  events  relating  to  the  Catholic  Church 
in  Pittsburgh  are  connected  with  the  rapid  growth  of  the 
Catholic  population  and  consequent  springing  up  of 
churches  and  schools.  This  truly  remarkable  increase  is 
due  chiefly,  of  course,  to  immigration.  In  the  last  twenty 
years  Germans,  Poles,  Italians,  Hungarians,  etc.,  have  come 
to  Pittsburgh  in  large  numbers,  attracted  hj  the  prospect 
of  employment  similar  to  that  by  which  they  earned  a 

[  350  ] 


THE   CHURCHES 

scant  livililiood  in  their  native  lands.  The  Germans  are 
largely  trades-people,  though  many  are  to  be  found  in  the 
iron  and  glass  works.  There  are  fourteen  German  churches, 
four  being  in  Allegheny.  The  Poles  and  Hungarians  work 
in  the  mines,  as  they  did  in  their  own  countries.  There 
are  three  Polish  churches,  all  having  large  parish  schools. 
The  Bohemians,  Slavonians,  Croatians  and  Lithuanians 
have  each  a  church.  There  is  also  a  Greek  church.  Almost 
all  of  these  nationalities  are  represented  by  other  churches 
in  Braddock,  Homestead  and  McKeesport. 

The  large  Italian  population  finds  employment  as  day 
laborers,  stone  masons,  workers  in  plaster  and  stucco-work, 
fresco  painters,  etc.  They  are  the  best  of  masons  and  mix 
the  best  mortar,  plaster  and  cement.  There  are  a  number 
of  contractors  among  them,  and  many  are  street  venders 
and  small  trades-people.  There  are  two  Italian  churches, 
one  on  Webster  street  and  the  other  in  the  East  End  on 
Meadow  street.  The  Italian  Catholics  were  first  ministered 
to  by  priests  of  the  Cathedral.  As  they  increased  in  num- 
bers it  became  necessary  to  provide  a  separate  church  for 
them.  Three  secular  Italian  priests  for  awhile  administered 
to  their  spiritual  needs.  These,  however,  came  to  this 
country  only  for  a  limited  period,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
St.  Bonaventure's  in  Allegheny,  N.  Y.,  was  called  upon  to 
fill  their  places.  Italian  Franciscans  from  Allegheny  have 
since  had  charge  of  St.  Peter's  and  Our  Lady  Help  of 
Christians,  the  two  Italian  churches. 

A  comparison  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Pittsburgh  as  it 
was  fifty  years  ago  with  present  statistics  may  be  of 
interest. 

Fifty  years  ago  there  were  probably  twenty-five  thousand 
Catholics  in  the  territory  now  contained  within  the  limits 
of  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny.  There  were  four  churches 
in  Pittsburgh:  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  St.  Patrick's,  St. 
Philomena's  and  St.  Michael's  in  Birmingham,  now  South 
Pittsburgh.  In  Allegheny  there  were  two  churches:  St. 
Peter's  and  St.  Mary's.  Four  or  five  of  the  churches  had 
parish  schools,  and  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  conducted  an 
Academy  for  Young  Ladies,  besides  the  Mercy  Hospital 
and  St.  Paul 's  Orphan  Asylum. 

[  351  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

In  1851,  Rt.  Rev.  Michael  0 'Conner  was  Bishop  of  the 
Diocese ;  Very  Rev.  E.  McMahon,  Rector  of  the  Cathedral ; 
Rev.  E.  F.  Garland,  St.  Patrick's;  Rev.  Joseph  Muller, 
C.  SS.  R.,  St.  Philomena's;  Rev.  A.  Schifferer,  St. 
Michael's;  Rev.  John  E.  Masetizh,  Vicar-General,  and  Rev. 
John  Stiebel,  Rector  of  St.  Mary's,  Allegheny. 

In  the  same  territory  there  are  fifty-three  churches, 
twelve  being  in  Allegheny,  and  thirty-nine  parish  schools, 
where  are  taught  eighteen  thousand  two  hundred  and 
seventy-three  children.  The  largest  of  these  schools  is 
St.  Stanislaus',  with  nine  hundred  and  sixty-three  pupils, 
the  smallest,  St.  Benedict  the  Moor's  (colored),  having  a 
roll  of  sixty  names.  There  are  three  orphan  asylums, 
where  nine  hundred  and  thirteen  orphans  are  sheltered 
and  educated.  Five  private  educational  institutions  with 
four  hundred  and  nine  scholars,  two  homes  for  the  aged 
and  infirm  poor,  caring  for  two  hundred  and  twenty-four 
inmates,  and  three  hospitals. 

The  Pittsburgh  College  of  the  Holy  Ghost  was  founded 
by  the  Very  Reverend  Joseph  Strub,  C.  S.  Sp.,  who  was 
born  in  Strasburg  in  1833.  He  worked  in  Africa,  and  was 
compelled  to  leave  Germany  when  members  of  his  order 
were  expelled  by  Bismarck.  The  great  demand  for  German 
priests  in  the  Diocese  of  Pittsburgh  brought  him  here, 
where  he  took  charge  of  the  Church  of  St.  Mary's  at 
Sharpsburg.  Bishop  Domenec  strongly  advised  him  to 
open  a  school  in  which  the  members  of  his  order  should 
instruct  in  the  general  academic  branches  combined  with 
religious  training.  The  school  was  opened  at  the  corner 
of  Wylie  avenue  and  Federal  street.  The  basement  was 
occupied  by  a  Scotch  Presbyterian  tailor,  and  a  German 
Lutheran,  who  baked  bread.  The  new  Roman  Catholic 
school  occupied  the  second  floor.  This  was,  however,  very 
uncomfortable,  as  there  were  no  grounds  for  recreation, 
and  when  the  College  had  increased  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty-four  students.  Father  Strub  purchased  several  lots 
on  Bluff  and  Cooper  streets.  A  new  building  was  projected, 
and  in  1884  the  corner  stone  was  laid  by  Bishop  Phelan  with 
great  ceremony,  and  was  ready  for  use  the  following  year. 
The  Very  Reverend  John  T.  Murphy,  C.  S.  Sp.,  took  charge 

[  352  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

of  the  College  in  1886,  and  continued  until  1899.  His  work 
in  organizing  and  augmenting  the  various  courses  added 
materially  and  rapidly  to  the  growth  of  the  College. 
Father  Strub  died  in  1890,  and  was  deeply  mourned  by 
the  College.  The  corporation  has  acquired  all  the  ad- 
jacent ground,  and  this  has  permitted  it  to  have  a  much 
needed  campus,  and  also  to  erect  in  1894  a  beautiful  chapel. 
The  Pittsburg  College  of  the  Holy  Ghost  extends  all  the 
influence  and  beneficial  results  that  Father  Strub  could 
possibly  have  desired  for  it  when  he  labored  so  untiringly 
in  the  little  building  on  Federal  street. 

When  Bishop  0 'Conner  took  charge  of  the  Diocese  there 
were  but  two  religious  orders  in  the  two  cities,  namely,  the 
Sisters  of  Charity  and  the  Redemptorist  Fathers.  Now 
there  are  nine  orders  of  men  and  eleven  orders  of  women 
by  whom  the  above-enumerated  institutions  are  conducted. 

Pittsburgh's  ceaseless  commercial  activity  finally  led  to 
the  selling  of  the  old  Cathedral  in  1901  for  one  million 
three  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  Bishop 
Canevin  decided  that  to  continue  the  location  of  the  Cathe- 
dral down  town  was  unwise,  consequently  ground  was  pur- 
chased on  Fifth  avenue,  at  Craig  street.  The  corner  stone 
was  laid  on  the  sixth  of  September,  1903,  and  the  cost,  with 
the  interior  furnishing,  has  amounted  to  one  million  three 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  building  was  finished 
during  the  Spring  of  1906.  This  new,  white,  stately  St. 
Paul 's  Cathedral  is  an  example  of  pure  Gothic  architecture, 
and  has  the  arrangement  of  the  double  clerestory.  The 
external  length  is  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet  and 
four  inches ;  the  total  interior  length,  two  hundred  and  five 
feet  and  nine  inches ;  length  of  nave,  exclusive  of  vestibules, 
one  hundred  and  eighty-eight  feet  and  nine  inches;  depth 
of  sanctuary  forty-four  feet ;  width  of  nave,  forty-two  feet 
and  eight  inches;  length  across  transept,  one  hundred  and 
thirty  feet;  height  of  vaulting  in  nave,  seventy-six  feet; 
height  of  vaulting  in  inner  aisle,  forty- four  feet ;  height  in 
outer  aisle,  thirty-one  feet  and  nine  inches ;  height  of  main 
gable,  one  hundred  and  ten  feet  and  nine  inches ;  height  of 
main  tower,  two  hundred  and  forty-seven  feet;  height  of 
transept  towers,  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  feet  and  seven 
23  [  353  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

inches.  But  these  mere  figures  do  not  tell  of  the  beauty  of 
this  really  splendid  building.  It  is  a  many-windowed  cathe- 
dral, and  the  windows  form  the  only  color  scheme  of  the 
interior.  Their  beauty  and  themes  are  a  paramount  em- 
bellishment. There  are  twenty-one  above  the  altars,  and  ten 
large  wall  windows,  in  addition  to  the  immense  window  in 
the  gable  front  over  the  Fifth  avenue  entrance,  depicting  the 
Worship  of  Praise.  These  windows  have  mainly  been  im- 
ported from  England  and  Germany,  and  the  coloring  is  in 
rich,  dark  tones,  but  when  the  sun  shines  they  become  a 
marvel  of  brilliancy.  In  one  window  is  depicted  the  first 
Mass  in  Pittsburgh,  which  adds  a  quaint,  historic  touch  to 
the  Cathedral.  It  is  a  Mass  on  the  bank  of  the  Allegheny 
river,  presumably  at  the  beginning  of  the  French  and  Indian 
war. 

This  cathedral  is  said  to  be  the  equal  of  some  of  the 
old  European  cathedrals  in  beauty  of  exterior  decora- 
tion. The  structure  is  of  Indiana  limestone.  There  are 
seventeen  chiseled  stone  statues  on  the  outer  walls  repre- 
senting St.  Paul,  St.  Mark,  St.  Luke  and  the  Twelve  Apos- 
tles, St.  Gregory  the  Great,  and  St.  Chrysostom. 

The  front  decoration  is  pre-eminently  beautiful.  Each 
division  of  the  three-part  main  arched  door-way  is  sur- 
rounded by  clustered  stone  columns,  and  the  ornamentation 
of  the  arches  of  the  door-way  consists  of  statues  of  the  four 
Evangelists.  On  the  lofty  central  pediment,  forty  feet  high 
above  the  main  door-way,  is  the  patron  of  the  cathedral,  St. 
Paul,  with  the  scroll  of  the  Epistle  in  one  hand  and  a  sword 
in  the  other. 

The  vestibule  is  located  in  the  baptistery,  towards  the 
right,  or  in  the  tower.  The  baptistery  is  separated  from  the 
vestibule  by  a  bronze  railing  and  gate,  which  rest  on  a  broad 
step  of  Numidian  marble.  Outside  the  baptistery  railing 
and  above  it  on  the  wall  of  the  vestibule  is  a  small  bronze 
tablet  two  and  one-half  feet  by  eighteen  inches,  thus  en- 
graved: "  This  Baptistery  was  erected  to  the  memory  of 
Right  Reverend  Michael  0 'Conner,  First  Bishop  of  Pitts- 
burgh, at  the  request  of  his  third  successor,  Right  Reverend 
Richard  Phelan."  The  massive  font  is  of  Carrara  marble, 
with  bordered  ornamentation.     It  arises  from  a  cruciform 

[  354  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

base,  on  a  triple  column.  Three  arms  of  the  base  are 
occupied  by  the  figures,  Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity.  The 
fourth  supports  the  basin.  On  the  front  of  the  font  is  the 
Latin  inscription  ' '  Fons  hie  est  Vita."  On  the  mosaic  floor 
streams  of  water  are  represented  running  to  the  four  quar- 
ters of  the  earth.  In  the  walls  of  the  baptistery  there  are 
three  beautiful  windows  relating  to  the  sacrament  ofi 
baptism.  They  fill  the  place  with  a  deep  rich  tone  of  color 
that  lends  much  to  its  churchliness  and  dignity.  But  the 
interior  loveliness  of  this  building  is  hard  to  describe.  From 
the  door-way  the  eye  has  a  long  unbroken  view  until  it  rests 
upon  the  exquisite  main  white  marble  altar  of  the  sanctuary, 
arising  to  a  height  of  thirty-seven  feet.  To  the  right  and  left 
is  a  forest  of  white  columns,  which  support  each  clerestory. 
This,  with  the  white  marble  chancel  railing  and  the  five 
white  marble  altars  and  the  immense  geometrical,  white- 
starred  ceiling,  produce  a  peculiarly  lovely  effect,  toned  by 
the  dark,  rich  windows,  and  the  deep  colored  wood  furnish- 
ings. All  the  altar  furnishings  are  in  perfect  harmony 
with  the  rest  of  this  splendid  edifice,  which  will  become  the 
monument  of  Bishop  J.  S.  Regis  Canevin,  the  man  who 
planned  and  through  whose  untiring  effort  the  building  of 
this  cathedral  has  been  accomplished. 

Trinity  Church. 

The  Trustees  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church,  of  Pittsburgh,  held  realty  in  the  town  for  ten 
years  before  there  was  a  minister. 

By  the  deed  executed  on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  Septem- 
ber, 1787,  ''  John  Penn,  Junior  and  John  Penn  of  the  City 
of  Philadelphia,  Esquires,  late  proprietors  of  Pennsylvania, 
for  a  nominal  consideration  of  five  shillings  current,  lawful 
current  money  of  Pennsylvania  deeded  two  and  one-half 
lots  of  ground  to  the  Honorable  John  Gibson,  Esq.,  John 
Ormsby,  Devereux  Smith  and  Dr.  Nathaniel  Bedford,  all  of 
of  the  town  of  Pittsburgh,  in  the  county  of  Westmoreland, 
in  Pennsylvania  aforesaid.  Trustees  of  the  Congregation  of 
the  Episcopalian  Protestant  Church,  commonly  called  the 
Church  of  England,  in  the  said  town  of  Pittsburgh,  their 

[  355  ] 


THE   HISTOEY   OF   PITTSBUEGH 

heirs  and  assigns  forever,  in  trust  nevertheless,  for  a  site 
for  a  house  of  religious  worship  and  burial  place  for  the 
use  of  said  religious  society  or  congregation  and  their  suc- 
cessors in  the  said  town  of  Pittsburgh,  to  and  for  no  other 
use,  intent  or  purpose  whatsoever. ' '  The  deed  was  filed  at 
the  county  seat,  Greensburg;  Allegheny  county  not  having 
been  erected  until  1788. 

The  land  thus  conveyed  was  used  from  the  beginning  as 
a  burying  ground,  but  not  for  thirty-seven  years  as  the  site 
of  a  church. 

These  first  four  trustees  of  the  church  were  men  all  in- 
timately associated  with  the  history  of  the  "  wonderful 
country."  Colonel  John  Gibson,  called  by  the  Indians 
' '  Horsehead  Gibson, ' '  was  commandant  at  one  time  of  Fort 
Pitt.  John  Ormsby  and  Devereux  Smith  were  both  mer- 
chants of  Pittsburgh,  and  Dr.  Nathaniel  Bedford,  who  came 
to  the  town  about  1770,  was  the  first  physician  in  the  dis- 
trict that  is  now  Allegheny  county. 

Ten  years  after  the  gift  of  land  by  the  Penns,  the  few 
Episcopalians  of  the  town  desired  the  Eev.  John  Taylor  to 
act  as  minister.    Mr.  Taylor  was  not  educated  for  the  min- 
istry, but  took  it  up  later  under  the  influence   of  Wil- 
liam  Cecil.     The   first   services   were   held   in   the   court 
house    and    in    other    places,    both    public    and    private. 
They  continued  to  struggle  on  in  this  manner  until  1805, 
when  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church  was  created  by  the 
Legislature  under  the  name  of  the  '  *  minister,  wardens  and 
vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church  in  Pittsburgh."    Eev.  John 
Taylor  was  the  minister,  Presley  Neville  and  Samuel  Eob- 
erts,  wardens,  and  Nathaniel  Smith,  Joseph  Barker,  Jere- 
miah Barker,  Nathaniel  Eichardson,  Nathaniel  Bedford, 
Oliver   Ormsby,    George   McGunnegle,    George   Eobinson, 
Eobert  Magee,  Alexander  McLaughlin,  William  Cecil  and 
Joseph  Davis  were  the  vestrj^men.    A  plot  of  ground  was 
bought  by  this  corporation,  bounded  by  Wood  street.  Liberty  ' 
avenue  and  Sixth  avenue,  on  which  they  proceeded  to  erect ; 
an  octagonal  brick  building.  The  comer  stone  was  laid  on  the ) 
first  of  July,  1805,  but  this  church  was  never  consecrated,  as  \ 
no  bishop  visited  Pittsburgh  until  Bishop  White  came  in  i 
1825.    To  meet  the  expenditure,  the  usual  expedient  of  the  \ 

[  356  ] 


FIRST    TRINITY     CHURCH. 


THE    CHURCHES 

time,  a  lottery,  was  resorted  to.  In  the  Pittsburgh  Gazette 
of  March,  1808,  Anthony  Beelen  advertised  these  lottery 
tickets  for  sale  at  his  shop  on  Front  street,  now  First  ave- 
nue, the  highest  prize  being  ten  thousand  dollars,  the  tickets 
selling  for  one  dollar  and  a  half.  This  "  Old  Round 
Church,"  as  it  came  to  be  called,  had  forty-two  high-back 
pews,  similar  to  those  of  churches  of  that  period,  besides 
the  gallery.  Those  in  the  two  front  rows  were  square  as 
well  as  high-backed,  and  were  especially  attractive,  accord- 
ing to  childish  notions,  since  they  afforded  more  oppor- 
tunity for  play.  If  there  was  an  evening  service,  candles 
were  the  only  light.  The  church  was  extremely  poor,  and 
*'  Father  "  Taylor,  as  he  was  lovingly  called,  struggled 
with  this  condition  as  well  as  his  personal  poverty.  He 
opened  a  school  for  boys,  and  he  did  some  astronomical  cal- 
culating for  Mr.  Cramer  for  his  almanac.  He  continued  as 
rector  of  Trinity  Church  for  twenty  years,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Rev.  Abiel  Carter,  who  stayed  until  1820,  and 
then  the  church  was  without  a  rector  for  a  short  time,  until 
the  Rev.  William  Thompson  took  charge,  in  1821,  and  con- 
tinued until  1824.  Then  the  pulpit  was  again  vacant,  and 
various  men  were  called  to  fill  it,  but  the  place  seemed  to 
offer  little  that  was  attractive  to  the  men  they  desired  to 
have,  and  so  John  Henry  Hopkins,  Esquire,  a  young  lawyer, 
and  a  very  active  member  of  the  church,  volunteered  to  act 
as  lay  reader,  and  obtained  a  license  from  Bishop  White. 
The  work  came  to  appeal  to  him  so  strongly  that  he  gave 
up  his  quite  considerable  practice,  and  was  ordained  deacon 
in  1824,  and  at  once  assumed  the  duties  of  rector  of  Trinity. 
This  man's  wonderful  vitality  brought  the  poor,  struggling 
little  church  to  life.  He  vigorously  set  about  the  plan  for  a 
new  church  to  be  built  on  the  land  donated  by  the  Penns. 
He  acted  as  architect.  He  was  practically  superintendent 
of  the  building,  and  on  the  twelfth  of  June,  1825,  the  church 
was  consecrated  by  Bishop  White.  The  tower  was  not  built, 
however,  for  a  year  or  two.  The  church  moved  rapidly 
forward,  growing  large  and  very  vigorous,  and  so  remark- 
able was  the  work  of  this  young  man  that  two  years  later 
he  was  called  to  St.  Stephen's  in  New  York.  This  he  re- 
fused, but  in  1830,  he  yielded  to  the  invitation  from  Trinity 

[  357  ] 


THE    HISTOEY    OF    PITTSBURGH 

Church,  Boston,  and  went  there  as  assistant  minister. 
In  1832,  he  was  made  the  first  bishop  of  Vermont.  The 
work  of  Bishop  Hopkins  in  Pittsburgh,  as  rector,  as  school- 
master, and  as  citizen,  leaves  the  succeeding  generations 
his  debtors. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Kemper  and  Rev.  Mr.  Brunot  each  officiated 
in  the  church  for  a  short  time  until  the  Rev.  George  Upf old 
was  called,  and  entered  on  his  duties  as  rector  in  October, 
1831.  Rev.  Dr.  Upfold  continued  as  rector  for  eighteen 
years,  when  he  became  Bishop  of  Indiana.  Then  the  church 
came  into  the  charge  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lyman,  who,  later  in 
his  life,  was  so  well  known  in  Rome.  In  1860  Mr.  Swope 
came  to  the  church,  but  was  not  rector;  it  was  hoped  for  two 
years  that  Dr.  Lyman  might  return,  but  when  his  ultimate 
decision  was  known  Mr.  Swope  was  made  rector.  In  1867, 
he  resigned  to  go  to  Trinity  Church,  New  York. 

Dr.  Scarborough  took  charge  through  the  following  seven 
years,  and,  on  being  elected  to  the  Bishopric  of  New  Jersey, 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William  A.  Hitchcock,  who  served 
the  church  for  eight  years,  and  then  came  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Maxwell,  who  resigned  in  1890.  The  present  rector.  Dr. 
Alfred  W.  Arundel,  came  in  1891,  and' the  church  under  his 
ministration,  through  the  wise  generosity  of  John  H,  Shoen- 
berger,  took  a  step  forward  that  made  an  epoch  in  its 
history.  Mr.  Schoenberger  bequeathed  to  Trinity  parish 
an  endowment  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  on  condition 
that  daily  services  should  be  instituted,  and  that  the  seats  of 
the  church  should  be  free.  Large  as  this  benefaction  of  Mr. 
Schoenberger 's  was,  it  has  been  no  small  task  to  meet  the 
heavy  expenditures  of  such  a  parish  as  Trinity,  for  the 
income  from  Mr.  Schoenberger 's  bequest  covers  practically 
only  what  he  designed  it  to  cover,  the  expense  of  the  daily 
services  and  the  pew  rents. 

Trinity  parish  is  the  mother  church  in  the  diocese  of 
Pittsburgh,  but  there  are  to-day  many  other  large  and 
flourishing  Protestant  Episcopal  churches.  St.  Andrew's, 
the  second  church,  was  organized  in  1837,  but  the  same  thing 
happened  in  Pittsburgh  that  has  happened  in  many  other 
cities,  the  down-town  churches  were  being  deserted,  and  St. 
Andrew's  has  rebuilt  on  Euclid  avenue  in  the  East  End,  a 
splendid  new  church,  dedicated  in  the  Spring  of  1906. 

[  358  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

St.  Peter's  Church,  on  the  corner  of  Grant  street  and 
Diamond  alley,  erected  in  1851,  was  removed  to  the  comer  of 
Forbes  street,  and  Craft  avenue,  within  the  last  few  years. 

Calvary  Church,  in  East  Liberty,  held  sole  sway  in  that 
little  district  for  many  years,  and  has  grown  with  its 
growth,  and  there  strong  and  wise  men  have  ministered  to 
those  under  their  charge.  The  first  meeting  of  the  congre- 
gation was  held  January  twenty-third,  1855.  For  many 
years  the  Rev.  Boyd  Vincent,  now  Bishop  of  Southern  Ohio, 
was  the  beloved  rector  of  the  church.  He  was  followed  by 
the  Rev.  George  Hodges,  now  Dean  of  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary, of  Cambridge,  and  dear  are  the  memories  of  those 
who  lived  in  the  parish  during  his  rectorship,  for  he  led  not 
only  his  parish,  but  in  almost  all  the  civic  movements  that 
made  for  the  bettermen  of  his  fellow  human  beings. 

Dr.  Hodges  was  followed  by  Rev.  Dr.  William  D.  Maxon, 
now  rector  of  Christ  Church,  Detroit.  The  present  rector, 
Rev.  James  H.  McHvaine,  will  install  the  congregation  in  a 
splendid  new  Calvary  Church,  which  is  being  built  on  the 
corner  of  Shady  avenue  and  Walnut  street.  This  will  be  a 
massive  affair  when  the  church  and  the  parish  house  are 
entirely  completed.  It  is  estimated  that  the  cost  will  reach 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

Christ  Church  in  Allegheny,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev. 
Robert  Meech,  D.  D.,  has  also  a  history  intrinsically  inter- 
esting to  the  members,  as  well  as  the  other  fourteen 
churches  of  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny,  but  it  is  only  pos- 
sible to  give  the  history  of  the  first  Episcopal  Church  of 
Pittsburgh. 

The  diocese  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  Pitts- 
burgh was  organized  in  1865,  and  the  Right  Reverend  John 
Barrett  Kerfoot,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  became  the  first  bishop. 
The  second  bishop,  the  Right  Reverend  Cortland  White- 
head, D.  D,,  presides  over  a  diocese  to  which  Pittsburgh 
and  Allegheny  contribute  thirty-one  parishes  and  missions. 

FiEST  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  fifth  meeting  of  the  Redstone  Presbytery  was  held 
in  Buffalo,  Penn.,  Tuesday,  the  thirteenth  of  April,  1784. 

[  359  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

After  the  usual  exercises  the  Presbytery  proceeded  to  ap- 
point supplies  to  such  places  as  had  made  application; 
in  the  list  was  Pittsburgh.  This  is  the  first  mention  of  the 
place  in  the  annals  of  the  Redstone  Presbytery.  "  It  ap- 
pears that  Mr.  Smith  was  the  first  member  of  the  Presby- 
tery sent  to  preach  the  gospel  there,  on  the  fourth  of  Au- 
gust, 1784.  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Beatty  and  Duffield  had  been 
there  in  1766,  during  their  missionary  tour,  in  pursuance  of 
an  appointment  by  the  Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia, and  found  the  people  living,  as  Mr.  Beatty  states  in 
his  Journal,  '  in  some  kind  of  a  town. '  ' '  When  Mr.  Smith 
first  carried  the  gospel  there,  as  the  messenger  of  the  Red- 
stone Presbytery,  it  is  probable  the  number  of  inhabitants 
did  not  exceed  four  hundred.  There  was,  however,  no 
regular  congregation  and  no  place  of  worship.  In  1785,  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Barr  took  charge  of  the  people  who  desired  to 
form  a  regular  congregation.  In  this  same  year  a  bill  was 
introduced  into  the  Legislative  Assembly,  at  Philadelphia, 
to  incorporate  a  "  Presbyterian  Congregation  in  Pitts- 
burgh, at  this  time  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Barr,"  which,  after  much  delay,  was  finally  passed  on  the 
twenty-ninth  of  September,  1787.  The  Penns  gave  the  site 
for  this  church,  as  they  did  for  the  Episcopal  and  German 
Evangelical  churches. 

'^  This  indenture,  made  the  twenty-fourth  Day  of  Sep- 
tember, in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  eighty-seven.  Between  the  Honorable  John  Penn, 
Junior,  and  John  Penn,  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  in  the 
Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  Esquires,  late  Proprie- 
taries of  Pennsylvania,  of  the  one  Part,  And  The  Trustees 
of  the  Presbyterian  Congregation  of  Pittsburgh  and  the 
vicinity  thereof,  in  the  County  of  Westmorland,  in  Penn- 
sylvania aforesaid,  of  the  other  part,  Witnesseth :  That  the 
said  John  Penn,  Junior,  and  John  Penn,  as  well  for  and  in 
Consideration  of  the  laudable  Inclination  which  they  have 
for  encouraging  and  promoting  Morality,  Piety,  and  Re- 
ligion in  genral,  and  more  especially  in  the  town  of  Pitts- 
burgh as  of  the  sum  of  Five  Shillings,  Current  Money  of 
Pennsylvania  unto  them  in  hand  paid  by  the  said  Trustees 

[  360  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

of  the  Presbyterian  Congregation  of  Pittsburgh  and  the 
Vicinity  thereof,  at  and  before  the  Sealing  and  Delivery 
hereof,  the  Eeceipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  have 
given,  granted,  bargained,  sold,  released  and  confirmed, 
And  by  these  Presents  Do  give,  grant,  bargain,  sell,  release 
and  confirm  unto  the  said  Trustees  of  the  Presbyterian 
Congregation  at  Pittsburgh  and  the  vicinit}^  thereof,  in  the 
County  of  Westmoreland,  their  Successors  and  Assigns, 
Two  Certain  whole  Lots  or  pieces  of  Ground  and  the  one  full 
equal  half  part  of  a  Lot  or  piece  of  Ground,  lying  con- 
tiguous to  each  other,  situate  in  the  Town  of  Pittsburgh, 
containing  in  Breadth,  on  the  whole,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty 

Feet  and  in  Length  or  Depth feet  (The  said 

two  whole  Lots  marked  in  Colonel  Woods'  Plan  of  the  said 
Town,  Nos.  439  and  438,  and  the  said  half  Lot  is  part  of  No. 
437).  Bounded  southeastward  by  the  remainder  of  said 
Lot  437,  conveyed  for  the  Use  of  the  Episcopal  Church; 
northeastward,  by  Sixth  street;  northwestward,  by  vacant 
Lot  No,  440 ;  and  southwestward,  by  Virgin  alley,  Together 
with  all  and  singular  the  Right,  Members  and  Appur- 
tenances whatsoever  thereunto  belonging  or  in  any  way 
appertaining;  To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  two  whole  Lots 
and  the  said  half  Lot  or  pieces  of  Ground,  Hereditaments 
and  Premises  hereby  granted  or  mentioned,  to  be  granted 
with  the  Appurtenances  unto  the  said  Trustees  of  Presby- 
terian Congregation  of  Pittsburgh  and  the  vicinity  thereof, 
in  the  County  of  Westmoreland,  their  Successors  and  As- 
signs, To  the  only  proper  Use,  Benefit  and  Behoof  of  the 
said  Trustees  of  the  Presbyterian  Congregation  at  Pitts- 
burgh and  the  vicinity  thereof,  their  Successors  and  As- 
signs forever,  according  to  the  true  Intent  and  Meaning  of 
an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania  aforesaid,  enacted  into  a  Law  the  twentieth 
day  of  September,  instant,  entitled  'An  Act  to  Incorporate 
the  Presbyterian  Congregation  at  Pittsburgh  and  the  vicin- 
ity thereof,  at  this  time  under  the  Pastoral  Care  of  the 
Reverend  Samuel  Barr ;  '  and  to  and  for  no  other  use,  intent 
or  purpose  whatsoever. 
*'  In  Witness  thereof,  the  said  Parties  have  interchange- 

r  361  ] 


THE   HISTOEY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

ably  set  their  Hands  and  Seals  hereunto.    Dated  the  Day 
and  Year  above  written. 

''  John  Penn,  Jun.     (l.  s.) 
' '  Sealed  and  delivered  by  the  said 

"  John  Penn,  Junior,  , 

"  In  presence  of 

"  Peter  Miller, 
'^  John  Spooner. 

''  John  Penn.     (l.  s.) 
'   "  Sealed  and  delivered  by  the  said 

"  John  Penn, 
"  In  presence  of 

^'  John  T.  Mifelin, 
"  Peter  Miller.  » 

^'  Be  it  remembered,  That  on  the  twenty-fourth  Day  of 
September,  A.,  D.,  1787,  Before  me,  George  Bryan,  being 
one  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
came  Peter  Miller,  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  Gent,  and 
upon  his  solemn  affirmation  according  to  Law,  did  say  that 
he  was  present  and  did  see  the  above  named  John  Penn, 
Junior,  and  John  Penn,  Esqs.,  seal  and  as  their  act  and 
Deed  deliver  the  above  written  Indenture,  And  that  he  did 
also  see  John  Spooner  and  John  T,  MifiQin  subscribe  their 
names  as  witnesses  to  the  Execution  thereof;  And  that  the 
name  Peter  Miller,  thereunto  also  subscribed  as  witness  to 
the  Execution  thereof,  is  his  own  Handwriting. 

''  Witness  my  hand  and  Seal,  the  Day  and  Year  afore- 
said. 

''  Geo.  Bryan,     (l.  s.)" 

This  deed  was  executed  to  ten  trustees,  John  Withers, 
Robert  Galbraith,  Stephen  Bayard,  Alexander  Fowler, 
George  Wallace,  David  Duncan,  Adamson  Tannehill,  John 
Gibson,  Richard  Butler  and  Isaac  Craig. 

On  this  land  the  Presbyterian  Congregation  proceeded  to 
erect  the  first  Presbyterian  Church  of  Pittsburgh.  The 
building  committee  was  John  Wilkins,  Mr.  Wallace  and 
Major  Isaac  Craig.  The  church  was  of  ''  moderate  dimen- 
sions and  squared  timber."  Rev.  Mr.  Barr  purchased  the 
contiguous  lot,  No.  440,  with  private  means;  this  lot  came 

[  362  ] 


PLAN    OF    PEWS    EM    OLD    LOG    CHURCH* 

WITH    PEWHOLDERS. 

1801. 

SIXTH     STREET. 


i 
s 

i 
< 

J.ltN. 

Pl-LPIT. 

1 

>-5 

li 

S 
& 

s 

3 

a 
i 

i 

33    34    35    30     37     38 
32    31 

1 

2      3      4      5      6 

8      7 

1 

1 

4 

i 

si 

i 

Geo.  Stevenson. 

30             9 
29             10 
28             11 
27              12 
2li              13 
25              14 
24              15 
23              16 
22              17 

Steel  Semple. 

i 

1 

Jas.  Robinson. 

G 

McGonigle. 

Jno.  VVilkins,  Jr. 

David  Pride. 

Jno.  Woods. 

W 

n.  Anderson. 

Ja 

mes  Riddle. 

Jos.  McCuUy. 

Robt.  Smith. 

Tboe.  ColUna. 

Wm.  Morrow. 

21              18 
20              IS 

And.  RicharasoD. 

Alex.  Addison. 

VIRGIN      ALLEY 

Whole  number  of  Pews ^8 

Number  rented  in  1801 31 

Highest  Pew  Rent $12.00 

Lowest  Pew  Kent 9.00 

*The  pl»n  ineerted  has  been  eubstituUMi  for  thai  dmwu  according  to  Mrs.  Way's 
meiDory,  m  somewhat  more  oumpl^te.  and  oooompauied  by  a  liat  of  ixiwholder^  It  is 
tbe  work  of  his  Honor  Judge  Addifloa.  aod  wab  dmwo  in  IHOl.— 3.  F.  B, 


THE    CHURCHES 

into  the  holding  of  the  church  in  1802,  and  greatly  enhanced 
the  value  of  the  property.  Mr.  Barr's  pastoral  relation, 
however,  was  not  happy  and  was  dissolved  in  June,  1789 ; 
from  that  time  until  1800  the  pulpit  was  filled  by  occasional 
supplies ;  the  condition  of  the  church  at  the  end  of  the  cen- 
tury has  been  described  as  "  faint,  yet  pursuing." 

Rev.  Robert  Steele  held  the  pastorate  for  the  next  three 
years,  under  rather  extraordinary  conditions,  which  led  in 
the  October  of  1803  to  the  following  petition:  "  To  the 
Reverend  Synod,  now  sitting  in  the  borough  of  Pittsburgh, 
(this  memorial)  most  humbly  showeth: 

' '  That  we,  the  subscribers,  being  appointed  by  a  number 
of  our  brethren,  either  already  united  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church  or  desirous  of  being  so  united,  as  becometh  the  gen- 
eral supporters  of  the  Christian  cause,  do  represent  that  we 
have  not  united  in  the  call  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Steele  as 
Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Pittsburgh,  but  that 
nevertheless,  being  adverse  to  a  separation  if  it  could  be 
avoided  consistently  with  spiritual  advantage,  did  for  some 
time  attend  the  preaching  of  the  said  reverend  gentleman, 
and  most  of  us  did  subscribe  to  his  support,  but  finding  no 
kind  of  spiritual  advantage,  have  long  since  withdrawn 
and  are  now  as  sheep  without  a  sheperd.  We  bring  forward 
no  charges  against  Mr.  Steele  or  any  member  of  said  church, 
considering  that  if  even  sufficient  should  exist,  this  is  not 
our  present  object,  but  assure  the  Reverend  Synod  that  our 
present  object  is  to  receive  the  immediate  benefits  of  what 
we  deem  to  be  a  Gospel  Ministry. 

*'  James   Morrison, 
"  Wm.  Barrett, 
"  Wm.  Semple, 
'' Wm.  Gazzam." 

There  is  a  tradition  to  the  effect  that  the  trouble  "  origi- 
nated in  the  crime  of  giving  out  to  be  sung  two  lines  of  a 
stanza,  instead  of  the  time-honored  one."  A  year  later  the 
separation  was  accomplished  and  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Pittsburgh  dates  from  October  fourth,  1804. 

On  the  twenty-first  of  December,  1801,  a  congregational 
meeting  was  called  to  erect  a  new  church  building.      By 

[  363  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

February  nineteenth,  1802,  the  subscription  had  reached 
$2,400.  On  March  twenty-second,  1802,  it  had  been  resolved 
to  build  of  brick,  forty-four  feet  in  width  and  fifty  in  length, 
exclusive  of  the  steeple,  which,  however,  was  never  com- 
pleted. An  admirable  building  committee,  Messrs.  Isaac 
Craig,  Ebenezer  Denny,  and  Alexander  Addison,  were  ap- 
pointed managers  to  ''  contract  and  carry  on  the  building." 
It  was  finished,  as  shown  by  advertisements  for  renting 
pews,  in  1805.  The  church  in  1806  was  in  financial  diffi- 
culty, and  following  the  approved  method  of  the  time  a 
lottery  was  resorted  to.  The  Gazette,  of  January  twenty- 
seventh,  1808,  contains  an  advertisement  which  is  an- 
nounced as  ''A  scheme  of  lottery  for  raising  part  of  the 
sum  of  $3,000  for  defraying  the  expenses  of  finishing  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  Borough  of  Pittsburgh."  The 
advertisement  sets  forth  the  fact  that  there  are  seven  hun- 
dred and  eighty  prizes  out  of  a  total  of  two  thousand  three 
hundred  tickets,  the  capital  prize  being  one  thousand  dol- 
lars. All  are  to  be  subjected  to  a  discount  of  twenty  per 
cent.,  and  ''  those  not  demanded  within  twelve  months  will 
be  considered  as  being  relinquished  in  favor  of  the  church." 
The  advertisement  further  says : 

<<  The  great  encouragement  and  advantages  this  scheme 
holds  out  to  adventurers  are  very  evident.  The  prizes  are 
generally  large,  and  for  a  small  sum,  which  almost  any  man 
can  conveniently  spare,  he  puts  himself  in  the  way  of 
fortune.  The  managers  have  every  reason  to  believe  that 
the  tickets  will  sell  rapidly  and  with  pleasure  inform  the 
public  that  a  large  number  are  already  bespoke,  and  from 
present  appearance  they  will  be  able  to  commence  drawing 
on  the  eighteenth  of  April  next. ' ' 

John  Wilkins,  John  Johnston,  and  William  Porter  were 
named  as  the  managers  of  the  lottery.  Tickets  could  be 
procured  from  Isaac  Craig,  James  O'Hara,  James  Riddle, 
James  Irwin,  James  Gibson,  Steele  Semple,  Phillip  Gilland, 
Thomas  Baird,  William  Anderson,  William  Steele,  William 
McCullough,  E.  Denny,  Boyle  Irwin,  John  Irwin,  Alexander 
Laughlin,  John  Darragh,  James  B.  Clow,  William  Wilkins, 
Alexander  Johnston,  James  Adams,  Robert  Spencer,  An- 
drew   Willock,    George    Robinson,    William    McCandless, 

[  364  ] 


^jS*' 


THE    CHURCHES 

Robert  Knox,  James  Robinson,  William  Woods,  John  Fin- 
ley,  James  Semple,  George  Sutton,  Henry  Fulton,  Alex- 
ander Hill,  Jacob  Negley,  William  Fulton,  Jacob  Beltz- 
hoover,  William  Graham,  Peter  Mowry,  and  Thomas  Jones. 

According  to  the  written  statement  of  one  of  the  elders, 
Judge  J.  M.  Snowden,  made  in  1839,  the  "  lottery  business 
resulted  in  a  complete  failure.  It  brought  no  aid  to  the 
funds  of  the  congregation,  but  tended  rather  to  increase 
their  difficulties." 

In  the  Spring  of  1811  Reverend  Francis  Herron  became 
the  pastor  of  the  First  Church,  which  the  year  before  had 
had  a  membership  of  sixty-five.  Dr.  Herron 's  salary  was 
six  hundred  dollars  per  annum.  For  thirty-nine  years  he 
labored  ceaselessly  and  wisely  for  the  church  and  congre- 
gation. In  1817  the  church  was  enlarged,  and  the  member- 
ship steadily  increased,  being  four  hundred  and  twenty- 
nine  in  1832.  In  1850  Dr.  Herron  allowed  Reverend  Wil- 
liam Paxton  to  take  the  work  out  of  his  hands,  though  for 
ten  years  longer  his  beneficent  presence  graced  the  church. 
In  1853  a  handsome  new  building  was  erected.  Dr.  Paxton 
continued  as  pastor  until  1865.  This,  of  course,  included 
the  war  period.  The  church  did  the  part  allotted  to  her 
generously,  and  the  work  of  the  various  societies  of  women 
contributed  largely.  Dr.  Sylvester  F.  Scoville  was  pastor 
from  1866  until  1883  and  was  followed  by  Dr.  Kellogg,  a 
man  of  great  erudition.  After  three  years,  however,  Dr. 
Kellogg  went  to  India  to  do  special  work  for  which  he  was 
so  eminently  fitted,  and  there  came  to  an  untimely  end.  In 
1886  came  Rev.  George  T.  Purves.  For  six  years  this  great 
teacher  and  preacher  filled  the  First  Church  to  overflowing 
with  eager  listeners  and  learners.  To  the  great  sorrow  of 
his  congregation  Dr.  Purves  thought  it  his  duty  to  accept  a 
Chair  in  Princeton.  Dr.  Moffatt  supplied  for  three  years, 
but  never  became  pastor  of  the  church.  Dr.  David  R.  Breed, 
one  of  Pittsburgh's  own  sons,  was  pastor  from  1894  until 
1898.  During  the  Spring  of  1899,  the  present  pastor,  the 
Rev.  Maitland  Alexander,  D.  D.,  took  the  charge.  Very 
many  events  have  occurred  throughout  these  last  seven 
years  which  mark  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church.     The  trustees   of  the  church,  were,   of 

[  365  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

course,  prohibited  from  selling  the  lots  bestowed  upon  them 
by  John  Penn,  Jr.,  and  John  Penn  in  perpetuity  for  re- 
ligious purposes,  but  they  found  it  possible  to  lease  this 
land  for  the  extreme  limit  of  years  allowable  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Accordingly,  in  1903,  the  church  was  pulled  down 
and  the  dead  taken  from  their  graves.  The  new  church, 
sumptuous  in  beauty,  was  erected  on  Sixth  avenue  as  the 
immediate  neighbor  of  Trinity  Church.  Nothing  has  ever 
interfered  with  the  continuous  growth  of  this  church.  Its 
story  is  one  of  long  uninterrupted  progress.  Under  Dr. 
Herron's  charge,  in  1840,  it  responded  ardently  to  that  so- 
called  religious  wave  that  swept  over  the  country.  Many 
were  added  to  the  list  of  members  at  this  time.  That  was, 
of  course,  an  outburst  of  religious  feeling,  but  this  church 
has  lived  through  a  long  period  of  being  a  down-town 
church,  whose  members  are  scattered  throughout  the 
suburbs  of  the  entire  city  and  it  still  prospers.  Its  totals 
are  written  in  figures  of  six  places,  and  it  supports  mis- 
sionaries not  only  in  Pittsburgh,  but  in  Siam  and  the  Philip- 
pines. 

Second  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  Second  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized,  as  has 
been  noted,  in  1804,  by  those  members  of  the  First  Church 
to  whom  the  methods  used,  regarding  the  services  in  the 
First  Church,  were  unsatisfactory.  The  next  year  Dr. 
Nathaniel  Snowden  took  charge  of  the  congregation  which 
worshiped,  as  the  other  congregations  had  worshiped  at 
times,  in  the  Court  House  and  other  places,  public  and 
private.  Dr.  John  Boggs  came  but  remained  only  a  short 
time.  He  was  replaced  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hunt,  in  1809.  The 
first  edifice,  on  Diamond  alley,  near  Smithfield  street,  was 
build  in  1814.  Dr.  Elisha  P.  Swift,  well  known  through  his 
connection  with  the  Western  University,  was  the  pastor 
from  1819  to  1833.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Blythe  came  but  stayed 
only  three  years,  and  it  was  during  the  pastorate  of  Mr. 
John  Dunlap  (1837-47),  that  the  new  church  was  built.  It 
was  into  a  lecture-room  in  this  church,  on  the  night  of  June 
sixth,  1850,  that  ''  Demented  Kelley  "  rode  on  horseback, 
and  to  the  startled  congregation  at  a  preparatory  service, 

[  366  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

shouted  ' '  I  come  this  time  on  a  black  horse  but  I  will  come 
next  on  a  red. ' '  That  night  flames  demolished  the  church ;  it 
was,  however,  rebuilt  on  the  same  site,  and  used  until  the 
congregation  removed  to  their  new  church  building  on  the 
corner  of  Penn  avenue  and  Seventh  street,  August  twenty- 
third,  1858.  This  church  was  used  throughout  the  following 
forty-six  years,  that  is,  until  1904,  when  the  sale  was  accom- 
plished for  five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Three  hundred 
and  forty  thousand  dollars  of  this  money  has  been  used  as 
an  endowment  fund;  the  balance,  with  donations  which 
amounted  to  about  one  hundred  and  ninety  thousand  dol- 
lars, bought  and  remodeled  the  Jewish  Synagogue  on 
Eighth  street,  which  has  since  February  fifth,  1905,  been 
the  Second  Presbyterian  Church.  This  building  is  capable 
of  seating  one  thousand  persons.  The  pastors  of  this 
church  have  been :  Dr.  William  D.  Howard,  1849-76 ;  Rev. 
M.  W.  Scott  Stiles,  1877-79 ;  Dr.  William  McKibben,  1880- 
88;  Dr.  John  M.  Sutherland,  1888-93;  Frank  Dewitt  Tal- 
mage,  D.  D.,  1894-97;  the  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  S.  Ed- 
ward Young,  was  installed  in  1898.  There  are  fourteen 
elders,  twenty-two  deacons  and  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  sixty  communicants.  The  largest  work  of  the  church 
is  outside  its  own  walls.  Frequently  during  the  summer  it 
conducts  three  park  services  with  an  average  attendance  at 
the  combined  services  of  probably  twelve  thousand,  and 
from  November  first  to  April  first  it  conducts  services  in 
one  of  the  largest  theatres,  with  an  average  attendance  of 
about  three  thousand.  The  church  is  thoroughly  organized, 
and  through  its  Sunday  school  and  various  societies  for 
Christian  work,  is  one  of  the  most  vigorous  and  active 
churches  of  the  city. 

Third  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  Third  Presbyterian  Church,  one  of  the  prominent 
churches  of  the  city,  was  organized  in  March,  1833,  by  a 
little  company  of  thirty-six  persons  (eighteen  families), 
nearly  all  of  whom  were  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  one  Richard  Edwards,  an  elder  in  that  church. 
Rev.  Dr.  Herron,  pastor  of  the  First  Church,  was  unselfishly 

[  367  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

active  in  forwarding  the  movement,  although  it  took  away 
from  his  congregation  many  of  the  most  active  and  useful 
members.  The  new  church  called  as  its  first  pastor  Rev. 
D.  H.  Riddle,  who  filled  the  position  for  twenty-four  j^ears. 
A  lot  was  purchased  on  the  corner  of  Ferry  and  Third 
streets,  and  a  church  sixty-seven  by  ninety-seven  feet  was 
built  of  brick,  two  stories  in  height,  surmounted  by  an 
octagonal  drum  and  belfry  supporting  a  tall  conical  spire. 
The  total  height  from  the  street  was  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
three  feet.  The  main  auditorium  seated  nine  hundred  per- 
sons. This  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  June  first,  1863. 
Another  lot  on  the  corner  of  Sixth  avenue  and  Cherry  alley 
was  purchased  and  a  large  and  fine  edifice  built  of  stone,  in 
the  Romanesque  style  of  architecture.  The  whole  building, 
including  the  chapel,  had  a  front  of  one  hundred  and  three 
feet  and  depth  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven  feet.  The 
main  auditorium  seated  twelve  hundred  persons.  It  was 
dedicated  November  twenty-ninth,  1868,  the  first  pastor. 
Dr.  Riddle,  delivering  one  of  the  addresses.  The  most 
notable  event  connected  with  this  church  was  the  reunion 
of  the  Old  School  and  New  School,  branches  into  which  the 
Presbyterian  Church  had  been  divided  in  1837,  each  branch 
having  had,  since  that  time,  its  own  separate  organization. 
After  long  and  careful  consideration  the  General  Assembly 
of  each  branch  met  in  Pittsburgh  in  November,  1869,  to 
consummate  the  reunion.  On  the  morning  of  the  twelfth 
each  Assembly  met,  the  Old  School  in  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  and  the  New  School  in  the  Third  Presby- 
terian Church,  a  few  blocks  away.  At  the  hour  of  ten  the 
New  School  body  first  left  their  house  and  marched  in 
double  file  down  Sixth  avenue  to  Wood  street.  As  they 
turned  the  corner  into  Wood,  the  head  of  the  column  stood 
opposite  the  First  Church.  This  was  the  signal  for  the 
Old  School  body  to  move  out  in  a  parallel  column  with  the 
other  body  along  Wood  street,  also  in  double  file.  The 
marshals  and  their  aids,  at  the  head  of  the  two  columns, 
had  no  little  difficulty  in  clearing  the  streets.  Besides  the 
crowds  which  thronged  the  sidewalks  and  filled  doors  and 
windows,  the  broad  avenue  was  a  jam  of  eager  spectators. 
Waving  of  handkerchiefs  and  shouts  of  applause  greeted 

[  368  ] 


THIED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH,   CORNER  THIRD    AND  FERRY   STREETS; 
BUILT    1833. 


THE    CHURCHES 

the  rare  procession.  The  Iron  City  was  electrified.  The 
magnetism  of  such  a  movement  was  attractive  beyond  any 
parallel.  It  was  confined  to  no  denomination.  The  heart  of 
the  people  was  stirred.  The  two  Moderators,  who  headed 
their  respective  columns,  approached  each  other  and  shook 
hands  with  a  will.  This  was  a  sign  for  all  who  followed, 
and  the  pairs  all  through  the  ranks  parted,  crossed  over 
and  paired  anew,  the  Old  and  New  grasping  each  other's 
hands,  with  welcomes  and  thanksgivings,  and  sometimes 
with  tears.  The  united  processions  marched  back  to  the 
Third  Church.  As  the  head  of  the  column  entered  the 
church  the  choir  and  organ  broke  out  with  the  grand  old 
jubilee  hymn,  ''  Blow  ye  the  trumpet  blow,  the  gladly 
solemn  sound."  After  the  delegates  were  seated  the  doors 
were  opened  and  all  available  space  was  quickly  filled  with 
spectators.  Other  hymns  were  sung,  prayers  offered,  and 
appropriate  addresses  delivered.  It  was  a  most  remark- 
able meeting  for  deep  feeling  and  enthusiasm,  in  which  the 
audience  participated  as  well  as  the  Assembly  Delegates. 
Thus  was  consummated  the  reunion  into  one  body  of  these 
two  divisions ;  one  of  the  most  important  events  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  America,  and  of  great 
interest  to  the  people  of  Pittsburgh. 

During  1890  to  1895  the  church  declined  in  numbers  and 
strength,  owing  to  the  removal  of  many  families  to  the  East 
End  and  other  points  at  a  distance  from  the  church.  Be- 
cause of  this,  it  was  decided  to  remove  the  church  to  the 
East  End.  A  lot  was  bought  on  the  corner  of  Fifth  and 
South  Negley  avenues,  and  a  large  church,  one  of  the  finest 
in  the  city,  erected  there.  The  style  chosen  was  the  Gothic, 
the  shape  of  the  main  auditorium  cruciform,  and  the  ma- 
terial sandstone,  yellowish  brown,  with  light  Indiana  lime- 
stone trimmings.  The  inside  walls  are  finished  in  stone 
similar  to  the  outside.  The  woodwork  is  oak,  with  an  orna- 
mented timber  ceiling,  no  false  work  or  stucco  being  used. 
The  church  was  finished  and  dedicated  November  first, 
1903.  There  was  immediately  a  large  increase  in  attend- 
ance, and  within  a  year  all  pews,  except  some  in  the  gal- 
leries, were  rented.  The  main  auditorium  seats  fourteen 
hundred.  The  total  value  of  buildings  and  lot  is  about 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
24  [  369  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

The  church  has  been  very  successful  from  the  start. 
Within  a  few  years  after  its  organization  it  became  one 
of  the  strong  and  influential  churches  of  the  city,  and  main- 
tained that  position  ever  since.  Present  membership  (com- 
municants), nine  hundred  and  sixty. 

The  pastors  of  the  church  have  been:  Rev.  David  H. 
Riddle,  1834-57 ;  Rev.  Henry  Kendall,  1858-61 ;  Rev.  Her- 
rick  Johnson,  1863-67;  Rev.  Frederick  A.  Noble,  1869-75; 
Rev.  S.  H.  Kellogg,  D.  D.,  July,  1877,  to  October,  1877 ;  Rev. 
Charles  L.  Thompson,  1879-82;  Rev.  Edward  Payson 
Cowan,  D.  D.,  1882-93;  William  L.  McEwan,  1894- 


East  Liberty  Presbyterian  Church. 

This  church  has  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the  largest,  list 
of  communicants  among  the  Presbyterian  churches  of  Pitts- 
burgh and  Allegheny.  Like  all  the  others,  whose  history 
has  been  traced,  its  beginning  was  small.  It  was,  how- 
ever, due  more  essentially  to  one  family,  the  Negleys,  than 
.   ,   |,  any  other  church.    Mr.  Jacob  Negley,  whose  wife  had  been 

'-'^w^^^'I'^'Wtfti'  a  Miss  Winebiddle,.  and  consequently,  inherited  much  real 
nlMl-'^i'^^t  estate,  controlled  practically  what  is  now  known  as  East 
Liberty  Valley,  in  the  early  days,  called  Negleystown.  He 
was  largely  instrumental,  if  not  entirely  so,  in  erecting  a 
I  small  frame  school  building  at  what  subsequently  became 
the  corner  of  Penn  and  South  Highland  avenues.  This  was 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  children  of  the  district,  as 
well  as  his  own.  It  was,  of  course,  a  long  distance  to  the 
then  established  churches,  and  Mr.  Negley  very  often,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  neighborhood,  invited  some  minister  pass- 
ing through,  or  one  from  one  of  the  other  churches,  to 
preach  in  his  own  house  and  later  in  the  school  house.  In 
1819  the  little  school  house  was  torn  down,  to  make  way 
for  a  church  building,  which  was  also  to  be  used  as  a  lecture 
room.  By  this  time  the  people  who  met  together  had  as- 
sumed somewhat  the  appearance  of  a  congregation,  and 
Mrs.  Negley  conveyed  two  acres  of  land  to  extend  the  prop- 
erty adjoining  the  new  church  building  to  the  East  Liberty 
Presbyterian   congregation.      A    subscription   was    imme- 

[  370  ] 


,t^»,w. 


THE    CHURCHES 

diately  made,  which  finally  amounted  to  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  thirty-five  dollars  and  sixty-two  and  one-half 
cents.  This,  however,  did  not  meet  the  expenditure,  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Negley  contributed  largely  to  the  building  fund. 
The  edifice  erected  was  of  brick,  forty-four  feet  square, 
which  was  quite  pretentious  for  that  time.  There  was,  how- 
ever, no  pastor,  which  state  of  affairs  continued  until  Feb- 
ruary of  1828,  when  the  Board  of  Missions  commanded  the 
Rev.  Jolm  Joyce  to  publish  the  Gospel  and  administer  its 
ordinances  in  the  neighborhood  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  "  at  his 
discretion."  The  congregation  was  incorporated  in  1847, 
and  the  same  year  began  the  erection  of  the  new  church 
building.  This  church,  in  1888,  was  too  small  for  the  con- 
gregation, and  the  present  building  was  erected;  massive 
and  impressive,  built  of  dark  gray  stone  which  tones 
peculiarly  well  with  the  slate  of  the  slanting  roofs.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Mcllvaine,  who  succeeded  the  first  pastor,  con- 
tinued to  keep  that  position  for  forty  years.  His  successors 
have  been  the  Rev.  John  Gillespie,  D.  D. ;  Rev.  Benjamin 
L.  Agnew,  D.  D. ;  the  Rev.  J.  P.  E.  Kumler,  and  the  present 
pastor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sneed.  The  East  Liberty  Presbyterian 
Church  has  been  mother  to  the  Point  Breeze  Church,  the 
Highland  Presbyterian,  the  Tabernacle  Presbyterian,  the 
Valley  View  Church,  and  also  the  Sixth  United  Presby- 
terian Church,  on  Highland  avenue.  The  great  work  of  tlie 
church,  however,  has  been  in  the  field  of  missions,  the  entire 
support  of  nmnerous  missions  being  from  this  organization. 
The  population  of  the  Shady  Side  district  increased  so 
rapidly  after  the  spring  of  1861,  that  in  a  very  short  time 
Mr.  Thomas  Aiken  and  Mr.  W.  B.  Negley,  both  members  of 
the  East  Liberty  Church,  but  who  resided  in  Shady  Side, 
decided  that  a  Sunday  school  for  their  own  and  the  children 
of  the  vicinity  would  be  beneficial.  Out  of  the  Sunday 
school,  which  was  then  organized,  the  Presbyterian  church, 
in  Shady  Side,  on  the  corner  of  Amberson  avenue  and 
Westminster  Place,  has  grown.  The  original  incorporators 
were :  W.  B.  Negley,  Joanna  B.  Negley,  David  Aiken,  Jr., 
Callie  J.  Aiken,  John  A.  Renshaw,  M.  A.  Renshaw,  Amanda 
Scully,  Annie  Kennedy,  M.  J.  Chambers,  E.  A.  Chambers, 
J.  A.  Chambers,  Kate  Negley,  Louise  M.  Dilworth,  Thomas 

[  371  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Aiken,  Eliza  J.  Aiken,  E.  M.  Aiken,  Mary  McGuffey,  Mary 
S.  Denniston,  William  G.  Johnston,  Sarah  M.  Johnston, 
Olivia  Chambers,  Sarah  E.  Cox. 

At  the  present  time  in  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny,  the 
Presbyterian  churches,  chapels,  and  missions  number  no 
less  than  fifty-one.  This  is  entirely  exclusive  of  other 
branches  of  Presbyterianism.  When  considering  what  the 
total  output  from  fifty-one  such  institutions  may  be,  a 
general  summary  is  practically  impossible.  First,  of 
course,  always  the  good  of  the  individual,  then  the  com- 
munity, then  to  those  far-extended  fields,  where,  it  is  the 
general  belief,  the  less  fortunate  dwell.  The  influence  of 
this  church  upon  all  these  classes  cannot  be  calculated. 

First  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  subject  of  the  Scotch-Irish  in  Pittsburgh  might  also 
be  the  title  of  the  volume,  so  numerous  have  they  been  and 
so  marked  are  all  the  achievements  of  the  city  by  their 
characteristics.  They  came  to  be  free.  They  were  a  people 
who  were  used  to  struggling  with  the  sea  and  soil  for  their 
life ;  they  were  determined  and  they  were  enduring.  They 
were  a  splendid  basic  stock  for  the  making  of  a  town,  but 
whatever  their  defects  and  perfections,  they  were  religious 
—  intensely  religious.  It  is  necessary  only  to  look  into  the 
history  of  the  British  Isles  to  become  imbued  with  this 
idea.  The  Episcopal  congregation  owned  ground  for 
years  before  they  erected  a  church  building.  This  was 
not  the  case  with  the  Presbyterians,  who  had,  as  has  been 
said,  immediately  erected  a  rude  square  room  they  desig- 
nated church.  Naturally,  people  of  such  emphatic  feelings 
and  inclinations,  ungoverned  by  the  strong  organization  of 
Rome,  failed  to  yield  to  one  general  concurrent  opinion  re- 
garding form  and  method,  consequently  there  are  several 
distinct  branches  under  the  generic  term  ''  Presbyterian." 

The  First  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  Pittsburgh 
was  formed  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  May,  1858,  in  the 
City  Hall.  This  was  the  union  of  the  Associate  and  Asso- 
ciate Reformed  Churches.  It  was  a  matter  of  great  re- 
joicing among  the  people  concerned  in  it.    The  Associate 

[  372  ] 


THE   CHURCHES 

Church  of  North  America  was  part  of  the  Associate  Church 
of  Scotland,  made  in  1733  by  the  secession  from  the  Church 
of  Scotland,  and  often  denominated  the  Seceder  Church. 
The  Reformed  Presbyterian,  or  Covenanter  Church,  had 
organized  a  Presbytery  in  this  country  in  1774.  In  1782  a 
number  of  Associate  Churches  united  with  a  number  of  the 
Reformed  Churches,  under  the  title  Associate  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church.  However,  not  all  the  Reformed  Pres- 
byterians nor  all  the  Associate  Presbyterians  came  into 
this  union,  therefore  there  were  three  churches  until  the 
next  union  in  1858,  before  mentioned. 

The  organization  of  the  congregation  which  constitutes  the 
First  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  Pittsburgh,  came  about 
at  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Chartiers,  at  Buffalo,  Pa., 
November,  1831,  when  a  petition  was  presented  from  Pitts- 
burgh and  Turtle  Creek  for  a  preacher,  consequently  the 
Rev.  David  McLean  was  sent  to  Pittsburgh  to  preside  at 
the  election  of  elders.  The  list  of  these  men  may  not  be 
exact,  but  the  Rev.  Dr.  Reid  states  it  is  probable  that  they 
were  James  Young,  James  Aiken,  Thomas  May,  and  James 
Glover.  At  this  meeting  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Henderson  was 
called.  He  came  and  remained  two  years.  There  was  no 
church  during  his  pastorate,  and  after  he  left,  until  1808, 
there  was  no  pastor  in  charge  of  the  congregation.  This 
year,  however,  marks  the  real  beginning  of  this  church,  for 
it  brought  to  Pittsburgh  the  Rev.  Robert  Bruce,  who  had 
charge  of  Turtle  Creek  as  well.  The  church,  under  his 
leadership,  with  the  growth  of  the  town,  moved  forward 
and  secured  a  lot  on  the  corner  of  Seventh  avenue  and 
Cherry  alley.  The  deed  for  this  lot  was  made  on  April 
fourteenth,  1810,  by  William  Woods,  sheriff  of  Allegheny 
county,  to  John  Keating,  James  Boyle,  William  Ralston, 
William  Bennett,  and  James  Young,  trustees  of  the  Asso- 
ciate Congregation  of  Pittsburgh,  for  the  sum  of  five  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars.  The  church  was  built  of  brick,  but 
its  walls  were  unplastered  and  the  pews  not  painted;  the 
pulpit  was  supported  by  rude  square  posts.  It  was  finished 
in  1813.  Despite  its  lack  of  loveliness,  it  filled  the  need 
and  the  desires  of  the  congregation  and  they  immediately 
demanded  that  Mr.  Bruce 's  sole  time  should  be  given  to 

[  373  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

Pittsburgh.  This  they  accomplished.  Five  years  later 
found  the  congregation  in  grievous  trouble,  because  Dr. 
Bruce  ''  lined  out  "  two  lines  instead  of  one.  It  went  so 
far  that  certain  members  of  the  congregation  sent  a  petition 
to  the  Synod,  and  still  later  they  found  more  fault  with  Dr. 
Bruce.  Under  a  dreadful  "  whereas  "  in  the  minutes  of 
the  Presbytery  may  be  seen  to-day  this  paragraph:  ''  It  is 
a  matter  of  common  fame  that  Mr.  Bruce  has  been  in  the 
habit  of  countenancing  his  congregation  in  the  practice  of 
worshiping  in  connection  with  communities  of  Christians 
different  from  that  to  which  he  belongs.  Presbytery  there- 
fore cite  him  to  appear  before  them  at  their  next  meeting, 
to  give  an  account  of  his  conduct  in  this  matter."  No 
action,  however,  was  ever  taken  on  this  affair. 

The  charter  of  the  congregation  dates  from  1831,  under 
the  title  ^'  The  Associate  Congregation  of  Pittsburgh," 
and  was  granted  to  the  following  men :  Robert  Bruce,  Wil- 
liam Bell,  Jr.,  William  Woods,  John  Graham,  Alexander 
George,  Daniel  Spear,  Thomas  Dixon,  Joseph  Coltart, 
Robert  Moore,  James  Hunter,  John  Herron,  Adam  Sheriff, 
John  Rea,  James  Gilchrist,  Samuel  Roseburgh,  John 
Chambers,  M.  F.  Irwin,  James  Liggett,  Davis  Sloss,  Wil- 
liam Dickey,  Samuel  George,  William  McGill,  John  Dixon, 
John  Whitten,  and  Thomas  Hamilton.  This  charter  was 
amended  in  1855  to  allow  the  trustees  additional  power, 
and  again  amended  in  1874,  allowing  the  trustees  further 
power,  and  adopting  the  changed  name  of  the  congregation, 
''  The  First  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  Pittsburgh." 
In  1822  the  church  became  inadequate  and  a  new  building 
was  commenced,  which  was  not  completely  finished  until 
1828,  though  it  had  been  occupied  in  1823. 

Dr.  Robert  Bruce  played  an  active  part  in  the  community. 
In  1819  he  was  made  principal  of  the  Western  University, 
He  belonged  to  the  Pittsburgh  Philosophical  Society,  and 
he  was  in  sympathy  and  in  active  co-operation  with  all  the 
educational  movements  of  the  town.  The  friendship  which 
existed  between  Dr.  Herron,  Dr.  John  Black,  and  Dr.  Bruce 
was  very  warm,  and  its  influence  was  distinctly  appreciable 
in  the  community.  The  foundation  strength  of  the  churches 
they  represented  was  laid  by  these  men. 

[  374  ] 


THE  CHURCHES 

In  1847  Rev.  Abraham  Anderson  was  installed,  followed 
in  1850  by  the  Rev.  Hans  W.  Lee,  who  remained  five  years, 
from  1850  to  1855.  During  his  pastorate  the  old  church 
was  pulled  down  and  a  new  one  erected,  at  a  cost  of  eleven 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  Certainly  the  wealth  of  the 
congregation  was  increasing. 

During  the  association  of  the  Rev.  S.  B.  Reed  with  the 
congregation,  occurred  the  union  between  the  Associate  and 
Associate  Reformed  Churches,  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of 
May,  1858,  which  brought  together  these  separate  organiza- 
tions and  formed  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  North 
America.  But  the  union  does  not  seem  to  have  brought 
tranquillity,  and  Mr.  Reed  was  released  July  eleventh,  1859. 

The  pastorate  of  Dr.  William  J.  Reid  commenced  April 
seventh,  1862,  and  was  marked  by  the  continuous  growth, 
which  always  bespeaks  harmony,  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  September,  1902. 

The  coming  and  the  final  passing  of  the  elders  and  the 
members,  the  baptisms,  the  marriages,  and  the  deaths,  the 
missionary  work  accomplished,  the  rapid  strides  of  the  city, 
are  the  changes  that  make  the  history  of  the  church  until 
1897,  when  it  was  decided  that  the  church  would  move  into 
the  Oakland  district.  The  church  on  Seventh  avenue  was 
closely  associated  in  the  memories  of  the  congregation  with 
some  of  the  vital  things  of  life,  and  it  was  an  effort  to  let 
it  go,  but  the  sale  was  accomplished,  and  with  ninety 
thousand  dollars  in  hand,  the  search  for  a  location  began. 
The  lot  finally  decided  upon  was  on  Fifth  avenue,  one 
hundred  and  forty  feet  front  by  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  deep,  on  the  east  of  Croghan  street  (not  then  opened). 
The  corner  stone  was  laid  on  the  twenty-third  of  July,  1898, 
and  the  church  dedicated  September  third,  1899.  The  total 
cost  was  one  hundred  and  ten  thousand  dollars;  there  was 
a  debt,  therefore,  of  eleven  thousand  dollars,  but  this  was 
rapidly  liquidated. 

Dr.  Reid  had  two  associate  pastors,  the  Rev.  John  M. 
Ross  and  the  Rev.  William  J.  Reid,  Jr.  Surely  the  satis- 
faction of  life  must  have  been  great  to  Dr.  Reid,  as  he  saw 
about  him  so  much  material  evidence  of  his  own  accomplish- 
ment.   His  pastorate  was  so  long  continued  that  he  indeed 

[  375  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

became  the  father  of  his  people  through  his  strength  and 
kindliness. 

The  history  of  the  First  United  Presbyterian  Church 
will  serve  to  the  general  reader  for  the  growth  of  United 
Presbyterianism  in  this  section,  as  it  would  be  impossible 
to  write  the  history  of  each  church.  If  this  were  done  it 
would  be  found  that  in  numbers  the  Sixth  United  Presby- 
terian Church  outranks  her  sisters.  This  church  was  or- 
ganized in  1855,  and  the  present  imposing  structure  is  due 
to  the  energy  of  its  late  pastor,  the  Rev.  R.  M.  Russell,  and 
the  great  generosity  of  the  late  Mr.  Charles  Lockhart. 

The  immense  influence  and  strength  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Church  can  be  realized  when,  according  to  the 
directory  of  Pittsburgh,  there  are  thirty-four  churches  and 
missions  in  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny,  in  addition  to  five 
Reformed  Churches  of  the  United  States  and  six  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Covenanter,  three  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
churches,  and  all  this,  of  course,  in  addition  to  that  large 
body  of  Christians  known  simply  as  Presbyterians. 

First  German  United  Evangelical.  Protestant  Church. 

Roman  Catholic  priests  had  come  to  this  region  and 
preached.  Records  show  Episcopal  clergymen  to  have 
prayed  and  preached  here.  Ministers  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  had  come  occasionally,  but  the  first  church  organ- 
ized in  the  little  town  of  Pittsburgh,  then  in  Westmoreland 
county,  was  The  First  German  United  Evangelical  Prot- 
estant Church.  Rev.  Johann  Wilhelm  "Weber  paid  his  first 
visit  to  this  frontier  town  in  1782.  According  to  his  ac- 
count, there  were  about  sixty  wooden  houses  and  huts,  in 
which  about  one  hundred  families  lived.  There  was,  how- 
ever, one  stone  house.  The  first  meetings  held  by  Mr. 
Weber  were  in  a  log  building  on  the  corner  of  Wood  street 
and  Diamond  alley,  and  it  is  almost  beyond  question  that  a 
block  church  built  of  logs  was  erected  here,  in  which  he 
continued  to  hold  services.  When  John  Penn,  Jr.,  and  John 
Penn  presented  land  to  the  Presbyterian  and  Episcopal 
churches  of  Pittsburgh  they,  at  the  same  time,  deeded  the 
same  amount  to  the  already  organized  German  Evangelical 

[  376  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

congregation;  the  land  given  to  them  was  bounded  by 
Smithfield  street,  Sixth  avenue,  Miltenberger  and  Straw- 
berry alleys.  No  church  was  built  on  this  grant,  however, 
until  some  time  between  1791-94,  and  it  was  of  logs.  This 
Was,  however,  replaced  in  1833  by  a  large  brick  building, 
which  had  the  distinction  of  a  cupola,  in  which  the  first 
church  bell  in  Pittsburgh  was  hung.  This  building  was 
used  until  1868,  when  it  was  succeeded  by  the  present 
structure,  which  cost  somewhat  less  than  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  dollars.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  pas- 
tors: Rev.  Johann  Wilhelm  Weber,  1782-94;  Rev.  Mr. 
Simmler  and  Rev.  Mr.  Steck,  1795-1800;  from  1800-12 
the  pastor  is  unknown;  Rev.  Jacob  Schnee,  1813-18;  Rev. 
Johann  M.  Ingold,  1818-20;  Rev.  Heinrich  Geiszenhainer, 
1821-22 ;  Rev.  Heinrich  Kurtz,  1823-26 ;  Rev.  David  Kiim- 
merer,  1827-40 ;  Rev,  Johann  Christian  Jehle,  1840-46 ;  Rev. 
Robert  Kohler,  1846-49;  Rev.  J.  J.  Waldburger,  1850-53; 
Rev.  Carl  Walther,  D.  D.,  1853-68;  Rev.  Carl  Weil,  1868-79; 
Rev.  Friedrich  Ruoff,  1879,  lately  succeeded  by  Rev.  Carl 
August  Voss. 

There  are  eight  congregations  of  United  Evangelical 
Protestant  Germans  to-day  in  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny. 
A  list  of  the  pastors  of  the  First  Church  is  given,  but  it  is 
scarcely  an  adequate  representation  of  the  story  and 
growth  of  the  church  from  the  few  who  first  gathered  round 
Pastor  Weber  to  the  list  of  communicants  to-day,  which 
numbers  twelve  hundred  and  fifty,  with  services  conducted 
both  in  German  and  English. 

The  Baptist  Church. 

The  records  of  the  Baptist  Church  go  back  to  the  time 
when  Pittsburgh  was  engrossed  in  the  War  of  1812.  Six 
families  originally  represented  the  faith,  the  history  of 
which  has  contained  many  incidents  of  peculiar  interest. 
The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Edward  Jones.  His  stay  was 
short,  however.  But  the  first  official  document  is  interest- 
ing. It  is  the  charter,  and  carries  the  title,  *'  The  First 
Baptist  Church  and  Congregation  of  the  City  of  Pitts- 
burgh."   Among  the  trustees  are  the  names  of  the  promi- 

[  377  ] 


THE   HISTORY    OF   PITTSBURGH 

nent  men  of  business  of  that  time  and  the  name  first  signed 
as  "  charter  member  "  was  Sidney  Rigdon.  This  man,  so 
notorious  in  a  later  religious  movement,  was  born  in 
Allegheny  county,  and  reared  on  a  farm  about  twelve  miles 
from  Pittsburgh.  He  became  a  printer  by  trade,  and  worked 
in  a  printing  office  in  Pittsburgh.  Here  lay  untouched,  for 
two  or  three  years,  a  curious  document,  written  by  Solomon 
Spaulding  (who  was  a  resident  of  Steubenville,  Ohio). 
This  curious  biblical  romance  is  believed  to  have  been  the 
basis  of  the  now  famous  ' '  Book  of  the  Mormons. ' '  At  any 
Tate  the  manuscript  was  lost  in  the  Pittsburgh  printing 
office  and  later,  during  Rigdon 's  association  with  the 
Smiths,  the  Book  of  the  Mormons,  strangely  analogous  to 
the  one  that  had  been  lost  in  Pittsburgh,  was  unearthed  on 
Mormon  Hill  by  the  since  famous  Joseph  Smith.  It  is 
claimed  by  some  that  Sidney  Rigdon  was  the  real  instigator 
and  brains  of  the  original  Mormon  movement.  At  any 
rate,  this  same  Sidney  Rigdon  was  the  second  pastor  of  the 
church,  but  he  endeavored  to  propagate  such  strange  doc- 
trines that  the  people  were  dissatisfied.  He  is,  however, 
always  remembered  by  the  members  of  the  Baptist  church 
for  the  singular  part  he  played  with  regard  to  Mormonism. 

At  intervals  of  every  two  or  three  years  the  records  of 
the  Baptist  association  show  that  a  new  church  had  sprung 
up.  In  1872  two  of  the  churches,  the  First  Baptist  and  the 
Union  Baptist,  of  Grant  street,  united  and  became  the 
strongest  Baptist  organization  in  the  city,  the  Fourth 
Avenue  Church.  The  history  of  this  church  has  been  one  of 
long,  unvarying  prosperity  and  good  works.  The  old  build- 
ing was  replaced  by  a  new  building  in  the  early  nineties, 
the  erection  of  which  has  been  a  great  acquisition  to  the 
entire  city.  The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  Warren  G. 
Partridge. 

The  Shady  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  organized  in  1886, 
must  be  noted  in  even  a  short  sketch  of  the  Baptists.  One 
hundred  and  nineteen  persons  in  Wilson's  Hall,  on  Franks- 
town  avenue  and  Station  street,  met  together.  Shortly  a 
building  was  projected  and  begun  on  Shady  avenue,  near 
Shakespeare  street,  and  finished  in  1891.  The  Rev.  W.  A. 
Stanton  became  pastor  March  1,  1890,  and  is  still  in  office. 
His  pastorate  is  now  the  longest  of  any  Baptist  minister  in 

[  378  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

the  two  cities,  and  the  church  is  the  second  in  strength 
among  the  Baptist  churches.  It  organized  a  mission  in 
Lawrenceville,in  1896  (which  in  1902  became  the  Forty-sixth 
Street  Church),  giving  to  it  about  one  hundred  of  its  mem- 
bers and  still  having  on  its  own  roll  more  than  five  hundred 
communicants.  It  holds  a  high  place  for  its  beneficent  and 
missionary  spirit  and  work,  as  well  as  for  its  influence  and 
teachings  in  all  religious  and  moral  lines.  The  church  is 
well  organized,  with  two  Christian  Endeavor  Societies,  a 
Men's  Club,  three  missionary  societies  among  the  women 
and  girls,  a  Ladies '  Aid  Society,  a  vigorous  Sunday  school, 
and  numerous  committees  for  doing  religious  and  philan- 
thropic work.  During  Dr.  Stanton's  pastorate  eight  hun- 
dred and  sixty  persons  have  been  received  into  member- 
ship. 

The  Methodist  Church. 

The  story  of  Methodism  is  like  unto  the  story  of  the  mus- 
tard seed.  A  newspaper  of  the  twenty-sixth  of  July,  1809, 
made  the  following  announcement: 

"  The  public  are  respectfully  informed  that  the  Rev. 
William  M'Kindry,  Junior  Bishop  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
will  preach  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Cooper,  brassfounder, 
in  the  borough  of  Pittsburgh,  on  Thursday  evening,  the 
10th  of  August,  at  6  o'clock,  and  the  Rev.  Francis  Asbury, 
Senior  Bishop  of  the  same  church,  will  preach  there  on 
Saturday  evening,  the  19th  of  August,  at  6  o'clock,  on  Sun- 
day morning,  the  20th,  at  11  o'clock,  and  in  the  evening  of 
the  same  day,  if  the  weather  will  permit,  in  the  garden  of 
John  Wrenshall.  As  the  venerable  gentleman  is  on  the  de- 
cline of  life  and  probably  may  feel  indisposed,  in  that  case, 
his  travelling  companion,  who  it  is  expected  will  be  the  Rev. 
Henry  Beohm,  will  not  only  follow  up  some  of  the  subjects, 
but  also  will  preach  in  the  German  language  at  the  house 
of  Thomas  Cooper  at  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
20th." 

It  would  require  a  volume  devoted  entirely  to 
Methodism  to  relate  the  history  of  the  almost  innu- 
merable Methodist  Episcopal,  Methodist  Protestant, 
Free  Methodist,  German  Methodist,  and  African  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  churches,  which  have  arisen  in  the  cities 

[  379  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

of  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny.  But  the  annals  of  Christ 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  may  be  used  as  an  ex- 
ample of  their  rise  and  progress.  '^  The  first  meeting  of 
subscribers  to  the  fund  for  erecting  the  Christ  Church  edi- 
fice was  held  November  twenty-sixth,  1851 ;  Robert  E.  Sel- 
lers was  elected  Chairman,  and  John  Shea,  Secretary.  No- 
vember thirtieth,  1802,  the  charter  was  adopted  and  the 
first  Board  of  Trustees  was  elected.  July  twelfth,  1853, 
the  corner  stone  of  the  Church  was  laid.  March  twenty- 
fifth,  1855,  the  Church  was  dedicated.  The  Rev.  J.  P.  Dur- 
bin,  D.  D.,  preached  in  the  morning,  the  Rev.  Alfred  Cook- 
man  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  Rev.  Calvin  Kingsley,  D.  D., 
in  the  evening.  The  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman,  transferred  by 
Bishop  Simpson  from  the  Baltimore  Conference,  at  the 
request  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  became  the  first  pastor 
of  the  Church  and  entered  upon  his  pastoral  work  April 
first,  1855. 

May  fifth,  1891,  the  Church  edifice  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
The  Board  of  Trustees  held  its  last  meeting  in  the  Church 
April  sixth,  1891,  and  the  last  services  were  on  May  third, 
1891,  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  being  adminis- 
tered at  the  morning  service. 

On  June  eighteenth,  1891,  at  a  Corporation  meeting,  the 
Board  of  Trustees  was  authorized  to  sell  the  Church  site, 
divide  the  funds  into  two  equal  parts,  appoint  two  Church 
Building  Committees,  and  use  the  proceeds  as  far  as  they 
might  go,  in  building  two  Church  edifices,  the  one  in  the 
East  End,  Pittsburgh,  and  the  other  in  Allegheny.  At  the 
close  of  the  Corporation  meeting,  the  Board  of  Trustees 
met  and  the  President  of  the  Board,  Mr.  Alexander  Brad- 
ley, appointed  John  G.  Holmes,  Otis  Shepard,  Charles  H. 
Bradley,  Joseph  Shallenberger,  and  Elias  J.  linger  as  the 
Church  Building  Committee  for  the  East  End,  Pittsburgh; 
and  C.  C.  Scaife,  C.  B.  Shea,  Sullivan  Johnson,  Lee  S. 
Smith,  and  Durbin  Home  as  the  Church  Building  Com- 
mittee for  Allegheny.  Mr.  Alexander  Bradley  and  Mr. 
Joseph  Home  were  unanimously  elected  as  honorary  mem- 
bers of  these  committees. 

The  Church  site  for  the  East  End  Church  was  purchased 
September  eighth,  1891,  and  the  contract  for  the  erection 
of  the  edifice  was   signed,  with  Henry  Schenk,  August 

[  380  ] 


THE    CHURCHES 

thirtieth,  1892.  The  architects  of  the  building  were  Weary 
&  Kramer, 

The  Church  site  for  the  Allegheny  Church  was  purchased 
November  tenth,  1891,  and  the  contract  for  the  erection  of 
the  edifice  was  signed  with  G.  A.  Cochran,  September 
twenty-seventh,  1892.  The  architects  of  the  building  were 
Vrydagh  &  Shepard. 

The  Chapel  of  the  Calvary  Church,  Allegheny,  was 
opened  December  twenty-fourth,  1893.  The  Chapel  of  the 
Christ  Church,  East  End,  Pittsburgh,  was  opened  June 
tenth,  1894.  The  auditoriums  of  both  Churches  were  opened 
and  the  entire  structures  were  completed  and  dedicated 
early  in  the  following  year. 

On  Sunday,  November  twenty-third,  the  liquidation  of 
the  debt  upon  Christ  Church  was  provided  for  by  subscrip- 
tions from  members  of  the  Church. 

Great  work  is  accomplished  by  this  vast  body  of 
Christians.  Previous  to  and  throughout  the  Civil  War  they 
were  and  remained  abolitionists,  and  have  done  important 
work  among  the  colored  people.  The  Methodists  also  do  a 
great  work  in  the  field  of  foreign  missions. 

This  abbreviated  article  in  no  way  purports  to  be  a  com- 
plete history  of  the  churches  of  Pittsburgh.  That  would 
necessitate  a  volume  or  volumes  devoted  entirely  to  the  sub- 
ject. As  early  as  1835  a  Unitarian  church  was  established 
in  Pittsburgh,  which,  however,  through  a  certain  period  of 
years,  declined,  but  again,  under  the  able  administration 
and  splendid  preaching  of  Mr.  C.  E.  St.  John,  flourished, 
and  a  most  attractive  church  has  lately  been  erected  on  the 
corner  of  Ellsworth  and  Morewood  avenues.  The  Rev.  M. 
Mason  succeeded  Mr.  St.  John.  The  Universalist  Church, 
on  the  corner  of  Grant  and  Third  streets,  was  dedicated 
February  fifth,  1866,  with  great  ceremony.  Dr.  Bacon  an- 
nounced that  the  building  had  cost  fifteen  thousand  dollars, 
one-half  of  which  had  already  been  raised.  In  answer  to  his 
strong  appeal  over  three  thousand  dollars  was  immediately 
subscribed  and  the  church  has  continued.  It  is  at  present 
located  on  Sixth  avenue. 

It  is  generally  estimated  that  there  are  in  Pittsburgh  and 
Allegheny  forty  thousand  Jews.  There  are  ten  Jewish  con- 
gregations, the  strongest  of  which  meets  in  the  music  hall 

[  381  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

of  the  Carnegie  Library,  and  is  under  the  charge  of  the 
Rabbi  Levy.  This  man,  almost  as  well  known  to  the  Gen- 
tiles as  to  his  own  people,  accomplishes  great  good  for  each 
of  the  great  divisions.  Brilliant  beyond  the  ordinary,  he 
has  made  plain  many  problems  to  those  of  less  ability.  The 
work  of  the  Jewish  women  in  their  own  and  other  benevo- 
lent institutions  is  recognized. 

There  are  eleven  Christian  churches.  There  are  six  Con- 
gregationalist  churches.  The  report  of  the  secretary  of  the 
Church  News  Association  of  five  years  ago  estimated  the 
maintenance  of  all  Lutheran  churches  in  Pittsburgh  and 
Allegheny  at  four  hundred  and  fifty-six  thousand  and  one 
hundred  dollars.  There  are  two  Russian  churches,  a  Bohe- 
mian chapel,  an  Austro-Hungarian,  and  a  Swedish  church. 

Estimates  that  are  made  in  the  world  are  totaled  in 
figures.  A  religious  man  or  a  philanthropist  may  go  to  a 
practical  man  with  his  beautiful  theories  and  dreams,  and 
the  practical  man  immediately  says,  '^  What  is  the  cost? 
How  much  does  it  pay?  How  much  is  paid  into  it?  "  And 
on  the  answers  to  these  basic  questions  he  makes  his  esti- 
mate of  the  usefulness  of  this  philanthropic  institution  or 
the  ability  of  that  church  to  accomplish  good  for  the  mass 
of  the  people.  It  is,  therefore,  estimated  that  the  total  cost 
of  maintenance  of  the  churches  in  Pittsburgh  and  vicinity 
reaches  the  immense  sum  of  two  and  a  half  millions  an- 
nually. That  is,  this  sum  is  contributed  by  those  who  attend 
the  various  churches,  for  the  payment  of  salaries,  to  the 
cause  of  missions,  and  incidentals  such  as  building,  repairs, 
etc.  Surely  this  must  convince  the  most  advanced  business 
brain  that  there  is  at  least  work  being  done.  Imagine  Pitts- 
burgh without  her  churches !  The  writing  of  a  history  of 
Pittsburgh  without  this  religious  and  ethical  counterbalance 
would  have  been  a  strange  history  indeed.  The  strife  of 
man  against  man  would  have  risen  to  a  height  almost  incom- 
prehensible. It  is  indeed  doubtful  if  there  would  have  been 
any  such  city,  with  her  marvelous  industries,  to  record.  It  is 
likely  that  there  would  have  been  but  a  small  strife-ridden, 
barbarous  community.  But  to  her  honor  and  glory  it  may 
be  in  all  truth  recorded  that  her  churches  and  her  benevo- 
lent institutions  have  fully  kept  pace  with  her  commercial 
life. 

[  382  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 


HOSPITALS   AND   BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTIONS 


The  furthest  research  into  the  history  of  man  always 
finds  the  religious  instinct  more,  or  less  developed,  but 
humanity  was  the  teaching  of  Christ.  Sympathy  for  suffer- 
ing He  showed  to  the  greatest  extent,  from  the  healing  of 
the  leper  to  the  raising  of  Lazarus.  His  heart  responded 
instantly  to  suffering,  whether  from  disease  or  wickedness. 
Slowly,  very  slowly,  man  has  responded  to  this  example  of 
His,  but,  nevertheless,  has  responded,  and  consequently,  at 
the  end  of  almost  two  thousand  years,  a  part  of  the  history 
of  every  city  must  be  devoted  to^  those  institutions,  directed 
and  sustained  by  man,  to  ease  and  help  the  suffering  of  his 
fellow-man. 

The  Mercy  Hospitax,. 

'^  The  Mercy  Hospital  is  under  the  management  of  the 
Catholic  Sisterhood,  but  the  hospital  is  purely  non-sec- 
tarian. It  has  uniformly  opened  its  doors  to  the  sick  and 
suffering  without  distinction  or  question  as  to  creed. ' '  This 
is  the  foundation  principle  of  the  first  institution  of  its  kind 
in  the  city.  It  was  lodged  temporarily,  in  a  building  on 
Penn  street,  January  first,  1847.  The  man  in  whose  mind 
the  idea  of  the  hospital  originated  was  Bishop  0 'Conner, 
and  it  was  through  his  unceasing  efforts  that  the  Sisters  of 
Mercy  were  able  to  carry  it  to  a  successful  completion.  The 
hospital  was  transferred  to  a  building  erected  for  its  own 

[  383  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

purposes  on  Stevenson  street,  in  May,  1848.  Including  the 
lot,  the  cost  was  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  This  was  met 
mainly  by  the  private  means  of  the  Sisters  and  the  generous 
donations  of  some  of  the  citizens.  The  building  was  three 
stories  high,  besides  the  basement,  and  was  capable  of  ac- 
commodating sixty  patients.  The  first  medical  staff  in- 
cluded Doctors  Daniel  McMeal,  Joseph  Gazzam,  George  D. 
Bruce  and  William  Addison.  These  men  gave  their  services 
gratuitously,  serving  a  term  of  three  months  alternately. 
Dr.  Thomas  Shaw  was  the  first  interne  at  the  "  Mercy." 
The  institution  was  for  years  without  a  corporation,  and 
had  no  board  of  trustees,  but  the  Sisters  wisely  desired  a 
periodical  inspection  of  the  entire  institution,  and  a  written 
report  of  the  same  by  a  Board  of  Visitors.  The  first  report 
was  signed  by  William  Ebbs,  John  Snyder,  Henry  McCul- 
lough.  Christian  Ihmsen  and  Luke  Taafe. 

The  city  dealt  with  the  problem  of  small-pox  in  1849. 
There  was  no  municipal  hospital,  or  pest-house,  and  the 
'*  Mercy  "  opened  its  doors  to  the  sufferers  from  this 
wretched  disease.  Some  of  the  cases  were  nursed  in  a  tem- 
porary building  outside  the  hospital,  but  many  of  them  were 
taken  directly  into  the  house. 

This  outbuilding  was  afterwards  burned  to  allay  the  fears 
of  the  neighbors.  In  1854  and  1855  cholera  became  epi- 
demic. The  hospital  was  not  adequate  to  the  number  of 
patients  requiring  care,  so  the  Sisters  gave  even  their  own 
beds  and  nursed  almost  without  rest.  The  only  man  left  in 
the  building  was  the  carpenter  to  make  the  rude  coffins,  the 
orderly  having  refused  to  remain. 

The  "  Marines  "  or  boatmen,  from  the  beginning  of  the 
hospital  had  found  care  there,  but  in  1851,  their  own  hospital 
at  Woods  Run  was  erected.  The  loss  of  this  class  of 
patients  straightened  the  circumstances  of  the  hospital  ap- 
preciably, as  the  majority  of  the  patients  were  poor.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  War  many  soldiers  were  nursed  here,  for 
which  the  government  paid  at  the  rate  of  ninety-four  cents 
per  day.  This,  however,  helped  to  relieve  the  stringency  in 
the  affairs  of  the  hospital. 

A  number  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  from  the  Pittsburgh 
Community  under  Dr.  Sidell,  United  States  Surgeon,  took 

[  384  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

cliarge  of  the  Stanton  Military  Hospital  in  Washington, 
J).  C,  from  December,  1862,  until  March  1865. 

These  valiant  Sisters  met  another  emergency  of  the  city, 
in  1872,  when  small-pox  became  practically  epidemic.  They 
owned  a  large,  roomy  brick  house  on  Bluff  street,  where 
they  had  established  an  industrial  school  for  poor  sewing 
girls,  and  forty  or  Mtj  cases  at  a  time  were  nursed  in  this 
house  for  months,  for  which  the  city  paid  ten  dollars  per 
week  for  each  patient. 

Until  1882  this  splendid  humanitarian  institution  was 
the  private  property  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy,  but  in  that 
year  it  was  decided  to  incorporate  it  as  a  charitable  institu- 
tion of  the  State,  thus  entitling  it  to  State  aid.  The  men 
who  acted  as  incorporators  were:  James  P.  Barr,  B.  F. 
Jones,  John  Birmingham,  C.  L.  Magee,  William  H.  Smith, 
T.  D.  Casey,  John  D.  Scully,  John  D.  Larkin,  Thomas  M. 
Carnegie,  James  Callery,  Anthony  P.  Keating.  Mr.  Car- 
negie was  made  first  president  of  the  board. 

The  hospital  became  again  inadequate  to  the  demands  of 
the  city,  and  it  was,  therefore,  found  advisable  to  build  an 
addition.  The  adjoining  lot  was  secured  by  a  mortgage 
given  by  the  Pittsburgh  Community  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy. 
The  cost  of  the  new  building  was  more  than  seventy-five 
thousand  dollars.  There  was  a  general  contribution  from 
the  citizens  of  Pittsburgh,  which  amounted  to  thirty-four 
thousand  dollars.  This  was  due  mainly  to  the  efforts  of 
Colonel  James  P.  Barr,  who  was  at  all  times  deeply  inter- 
ested in  this  work.  The  State  appropriated  thirty  thousand 
dollars,  and  William  Thaw  donated  twenty  thousand.  The 
addition  was  a  plain  but  imposing  structure,  containing  four 
general  wards,  fifteen  private  rooms,  and  several  double 
rooms,  which  increased  the  capacity  of  the  hospital  for 
patients  to  about  one  hundred  and  fifty.  A  mortuary  chapel 
was  built,  and  many  improvements  were  made  in  the  old 
building.  The  entire  debt  was  liquidated  within  the  next 
ten  years,  except  what  was  owing  to  the  Community  Sisters 
for  the  mortgage.  In  1875,  the  city  erected  a  Municipal 
Hospital,  but  the  ''  Mercy,"  during  the  year  1902,  estab- 
lished an  isolated  department,  so  that  it  is  still  possible  to 
handle  contagious  diseases. 

25  [  385  ] 


THE   HISTORY    OF    PITTSBURGH 

A  radical  change  was  made  in  the  management  of  the 
hospital,  in  1892,  by  the  regulation  of  a  permanent  staff  to 
give  their  services  continually. 

The  city,  through  the  "  Mercy  "  hospital,  became  in- 
debted to  Mr.  Christopher  L.  Magee,  when  the  Magee 
Pathological  Institute  was  opened  in  1900.  This  depart- 
ment is  conducted  as  a  Pasteur  Institute,  and  has  been  of 
inestimable  value. 

The  number  of  patients  admitted  to  the  "  Mercy  "  hos- 
pital from  1848  to  1904  was  more  than  eighty  thousand. 

The  management  is  in  charge  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy. 
The  trustees  are:  M.  K.  McMullen,  president;  J.  Dawson 
Gallery,  secretary;  Albert  J.  Barr,  vice-president;  F.  H. 
Skelding,  treasurer;  John  B.  Larkin,  Willis  F.  McCook, 
John  Farrell,  T.  Hart  Given,  J.  M.  Guffey  and  George  C. 
Wilson. 

The  hospital  staff  is  at  present :  Surgeons,  R.  W.  Stew- 
art, J.  J.  Buchanan,  George  L.  Hays.  Physicians,  I.  J. 
Moyer,  J.  I.  Johnston,  C.  O.  Goulding,  B.  M.  Dickinson. 
Specialists,  X.  O.  Werder,  W.  F.  Robeson,  J.  C.  Hierholzer, 
J.  De  V.  Singley,  F.  W.  Meade,  John  W.  DLxon,  J.  F.  Mur- 
doch, E.  A.  Weiss,  Acheson  Stewart.  Dispensary  Staff,  I. 
J.  Moyer,  D.  B.  Beggs,  E.  W.  Meredith,  S.  A.  Chalfant,  M. 
Goldsmith,  J.  R.  McCurdy,  J.  A.  Reidy,  J.  F.  Murdoch,  O. 
G.  Barker,  J.  C.  Hierholzer,  Jos.  H.  Hoffman,  J.  P.  Hagerty, 
E.  A.  Weiss.    Registrar,  S.  A.  Chalfant. 

And  so  these  women,  hiding  their  individuality  behind 
the  barrier  of  their  "  Community,"  labor  ceaselessly  to 
alleviate  pain.  They  neither  desire  nor  lay  claim  to  any 
recompense,  except  the  glory  of  the  '  *  Mercy, ' '  which  is, 
that  the  poor  are  sheltered  within  its  walls  and  numbers  of 
wretched,  suffering  human  beings  are  cared  for,  and  in 
some  cases  restored  to  health. 

The  Western   Pennsylvania   Hospital.  I 

Pittsburgh  was  recovering  from  her  great  fire,  1845,  and  Ij 
though  still  a  small  city,  the  men  who  made  her  vital  If 
strength  were  not  so  occupied  with  the  mere  rebuilding  off 
their  businesses,  but  that  in  1847,  there  was  a  move,  through) 

[  386  ]  i 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

the  general  contributions  of  no  less  than  two  hundred  per- 
son, to  erect  a  hospital.  A  large  meeting  was  held  in  the 
old  Odeon  building,  on  Fourth  street,  over  which  Dr.  H.  D. 
Sellers  presided,  and  for  which  John  Harper  and  Thomas 
M.  Howe,  acted  as  secretaries.  An  association  was  formed, 
and  desired  from  the  Legislature  a  charter,  the  title  of 
which  should  be,  "  The  Western  Pennsylvania  Hospital." 
It  was  granted  on  the  eighteenth  of  March,  in  the  following 
year.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harmar  Denny,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
E.  W.  H.  Schenley  offered  to  this  association  twenty-four 
acres  of  land  in  the  then  ninth  ward  (now  the  twelfth), 
south  of  Liberty  street.  This,  the  association  accepted,  and 
one  section  of  the  charter  read :  ' '  There  shall  be  no  dis- 
tinction as  to  religious  denominations,  and  clergymen  shall 
have  access  to  patients  of  their  persuasion,  subject  to  the 
general  rules  in  reference  to  the  admission  to  patients." 
Buildings  were  erected  and  opened  during  January,  1853. 
There  was  an  immediate  demand  upon  this  hospital  for  the 
admission  of  the  insane,  which  continued  to  increase  to  such 
an  extent  that  on  May  eighth,  1855,  a  supplement  to  the 
Act  of  incorporation  was  made  by  which  the  State  appro- 
priated ten  thousand  dollars  towards  securing  accommoda- 
tion for  the  mentally  afflicted,  and  authorized  the  courts  of 
Western  Pennsylvania  to  commit  to  the  hospital  any  person 
charged  with  punishable  offense,  who  might  be  then  insane, 
and  a  further  supplement  to  the  charter  was  made  a  year 
later,  which  carried  with  it  a  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars to  further  extend  the  department  for  the  insane.  It 
was  then  proposed  and  approved  by  the  Governor  to  erect 
additional  buildings  for  this  particular  class  of  patients, 
and  the  State  to  appoint  annually  three  managers.  This, 
however,  after  long  and  serious  consideration,  was  deemed 
injudicious,  and  Miss  Dorothy  L.  Dix  was  invited  to  a 
conference  with  the  Board  of  Managers.  Upon  her  ad- 
vice, the  managers  sold  the  farm  they  had  already  pur- 
chased, on  the  left  bank  of  the  Monongahela  river,  and 
bought  in  place  thereof  one  containing  about  three  hundred 
acres  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Ohio,  seven  miles  below  the 
city.  This,  with  other  tracts  of  land  purchased  subse- 
quently through  the  aid  of  private  funds,  were  all  on  the 

[  387  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

line  of  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  and  Chicago  Railroad. 
That  all  this  had  the  sanction  of  the  Legislature,  is  evi- 
denced by  another  liberal  appropriation  made  in  April, 
1859,  it  being  the  intention  of  the  State  to  make  this  a 
home  for  the  indigent  insane  of  twenty-one  counties  of 
AVestern  Pennsylvania.  The  constituted  authorities  of  the 
respective  counties,  districts,  and  townships  were  empowered 
to  send  to  it  the  indigent  insane  under  their  charge,  admis- 
sion to  be  in  the  ratio  of  their  population,  recent  cases  being 
preferred  to  those  of  long  standing,  the  poor  having  prefer- 
ence to  the  rich.  The  corner  stone  of  the  central  building 
was  laid  July  nineteenth,  1859,  and  the  building  was  so  far 
completed  by  November  eleventh,  1861,  that  one  hundred 
and  thirteen  patients,  with  attendants,  were  moved  into  it. 
Dixmont  (after  Miss  Dix),  was  then,  as  to-day,  officially  the 
insane  department  of  the  Western  Pennsylvania  Hospital, 
and  consequently  under  its  management.  Dr.  J.  A.  Reed 
was  made  the  first  superintendent,  and  the  irreproachable 
character  of  this  institution  is  undoubtedly  due  in  great  part 
to  his  splendid  supervision,  and  the  equally  strong  work 
of  Dr.  H.  A.  Hutchison. 

The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  at  one  time  threatened  to 
destroy  the  usefulness  of  the  '^  West  Penn  Hospital,"  but 
satisfactory  arrangements,  with  regard  to  the  placing  of  the 
tracks  and  the  juxtaposition  of  the  hospital,  were  finally 
made,  and  since  then  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  has  paid 
annually  to  the  "  West  Penn  "  the  sum  of  four  thousand 
dollars  as  ground  rent.  This,  of  course,  through  its  earlier 
years  particularly,  was  a  matter  of  great  moment  to  the 
hospital. 

During  the  Civil  War  the  hospital  was  tendered  to  the 
government  for  sick  and  disabled  soldiers,  and  accepted  by 
Mr.  Stanton,  with  expressions  of  gratitude.  Its  ample 
wards  were  soon  filled,  nearly  ten  thousand  soldiers  being 
accommodated  at  a  time  in  the  large  building  and  the  tem- 
porary outside  arrangements.  No  remuneration  was  asked 
or  expected  for  this  use.  The  government,  in  accordance 
with  the  charter  of  the  institution,  received  all  cases  of  ac- 
cidental injury ;  otherwise,  the  city  had  no  use  of  it. 

When  the  great  unselfish  work  of  the  Subsistence  Com- 

[  388  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

mittee  was  done,  the  Sanitary  Fair  was  over,  and  before  its 
dissolution,  it  transferred  by  unanimous  consent  to  the 
Western  Pennsylvania  Hospital  for  the  endowment  of  the 
Hospital  in  the  Twelfth  Ward  of  Pittsburgh,  for  the  sick, 
helpless  and  infirm,  and  persons  recovering  from  accidental 
injury,  assets  to  the  amount  of  $198,383.71. 

During  1865,  1866  and  1867  large  appropriations  were 
made  by  the  Legislature  for  enlarging  the  hospital  at  Dix- 
mont.  Each  year  the  hospital  in  the  twelfth  ward  and  the 
insane-  department  at  Dixmont,  under  the  management  of 
able  men,  continued  to  expand  to  meet  the  increasing  de- 
mand of  the  population  of  Western  Pennsylvania.  There 
has  been  no  year  that  has  not  marked  growth. 

The  preseiit  officers  of  the  institution  are :  President, 
James  R,  Mellon;  vice-presidents,  first,  Albert  J.  Logan; 
second,  William  M.  Kennedy;  treasurer,  George  D.  Ed- 
wards ;  secretary,  J.  W.  Macfarlane.  Custodian  of  Securities, 
Fidelity  Title  and  Trust  Co.  Solicitors,  Shiras  and  Dickey. 
Life  managers,  Thomas  M.  Armstrong,  F.  S.  Bissell,  An- 
drew Carnegie,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  J.  Duncan,  Miss  Matilda 
Denny,  Mrs.  Eliza  Thaw  Edwards,  H.  C.  Frick,  Fred.  K. 
Gwinner,  Sr.,  John  A.  Harper,  Samuel  Hamilton,  John  B. 
Jackson,  James  R.  Mellon,  T.  A.  Mellon,  A.  W.  Mellon,  R. 
B.  Mellon,  Mrs.  Judge  Mellon,  Mrs.  Samuel  M'Kee,  M.  K. 
M'Mullin,  Miss  Julia  Nelson,  Miss  Maggie  Nelson,  Henry 
Phipps,  Jr.,  Lawrence  C.  Phipps,  James  H.  Park,  D.  E. 
Park,  C.  E.  Rumsey,  James  H.  Reed,  Charles  H.  Spang. 
Managers  elected  by  the  contributors :  One  year,  Ogden  M. 
Edwards,  J.  B.  Finley,  J.  0.  Flower,  L.  P.  Harbison,*  J.  C. 
Kohne,  J.  W.  Macfarlane,  James  H.  Willock.  Two  years, 
W.  L.  Arbuthnot,  John  A.  Bell,  H.  P.  Bope,  H.  C.  Frye,  W. 
L.  Jones,  George  E,  Shaw,  C.  C.  Townsend.  Three  years, 
T.  N.  Boyle,  William  Flinn,  D.  L.  Gillespie,  H.  J.  Heinz, 
William  M.  Kenned3^  James  H.  Lockhart,  A.  S.  M.  Morgan. 
State  Managers,  Robert  Pitcairn,  A.  L.  M'Kibben,  Albert 
J.  Logan. 

The  present  staff  is :  F.  Le  Moyne,  C.  Emmerling,  James 
W.  Macfarlane,  E.  B.  Haworth,  J.  Hartley  Anderson,  L.  W. 

*  Deceased. 

[  389  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

Swope,  M.  C.  Cameron,  Ijawrence  Litchfield,  John  W. 
Boyce,  Thomas  S.  Arbuthnot,  Ewing  W.  Day,  K.  I.  Sanes, 
G.  E.  Curry,  C.  Q.  Jackson,  C.  S.  Foster,  Percival  J.  Eaton, 
Ogden  M.  Edwards,  F.  S.  Kellogg,  Ralph  Duffy,  Clyde  0. 
Anderson,  C.  H.  Ingram,  J.  R.  Brown,  W.  F.  Donaldson,  J. 
D.  Milligan,  C.  A.  Ellis,  W.  M.  Davis,  S.  H.  M'Kibben,  J.  A. 
Lichty,  S.  A.  Chalfant,  Stewart  Patterson,  H.  W.  Kunkle, 
H.  C.  Feldstein,  H.  C.  Hoffman,  E.  J.  Thompson,  E.  V. 
Thompson,  V.  G.  Wagner,  W.  J.  L.  M'Cullough,  J.  R.  Simp- 
son, G.  A.  Knight,  J.  N.  Stanton,  W.  W.  Shaffer. 

Mr.  James  R.  Mellon  in  his  last  statement  to  the  Board  of 
Managers  said: 

"  The  Medical  and  Surgical  Department,  thanks  to  the 
energy  of  its  Chairman,  Colonel  A.  J.  Logan,  and  a  spe- 
cially efficient  Executive  Committee,  has  placed  itself  in  an 
excellent  position,  with  the  community  at  large,  by  getting 
as  nearly  as  possible  upon  a  strict^  cash  basis ;  but  in  order 
to  do  this  eighty  thousand  dollars  had  to  be  borrowed  to 
cancel  its  floating  debts.  Many  of  these  debts  were  of  long 
standing,  with  merchants  about  town,  who  could  ill  afford 
to  bear  the  burden  laid  upon  them  by  the  condition  of  our 
treasury,  which  has  been  brought  about  by  our  necessarily 
large  list  of  charity  patients. 

^'  The  conversion  of  a  floating  indebtedness  into  an  inter- 
est-bearing one,  may  not  seem  meritorious  to  you,  but  in  set- 
tling with  our  creditors  they  have  been  generous,  so  that,  at 
least,  for  a  time  we  will  not  be  adding  anything  to  our  ex- 
penditures, and  the  advantages  of  buying  for  cash  are  such, 
that  we  trust  you  will  look  at  it  in  the  same  light  we  do,  as 
it  was  impossible  for  us  to  continue  on  in  the  old  way. 

"  We  admitted  during  the  year  2,783  patients,  which, 
added  to  209  in  the  hospital,  October  1st,  1904,  make  a  total 
of  2,992  treated  during  the  year.  The  actual  percentage  of 
deaths  was  7.33,  which,  considering  the  run  of  cases,  is  a 
very  satisfactory  record. 

''  Pay  patients  numbered  1,348,  covering  a  period  of  27,- 
125  days'  occupancy. 

'^  Free  patients  numbered  1,144,  covering  a  period  of  31,- 
183  days'  occupancy. 

"'  Part  pa}^  patients  numbered  241,  covering  a  period  of 
5,580  days'  occupancy. 

[  390  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

''  Old  soldiers  numbered  50,  covering  a  period  of  1,105 
days'  occupancy. 

"  In  addition  to  this  560  gratuitous  dressings  were  ap- 
plied in  emergency  cases  from  .he  Mill  districts  and  the 
railroads. 

"  The  cost  per  capita  per  diem  was  $1.89,  an  increase  of 
nine  cents  over  last  year,  due  in  part  to  an  increase  in  our 
charity  work,  and  to  plumbing  improvements  done  under 
the  official  plumbing  authorities  of  this  district.  It  is  true 
that  these  plumbing  alterations  have  materially  improved 
the  general  health  of  our  patients,  nurses  and  employees ; 
but  the  cost  of  this  amelioration  was  $7,650.63,  The  total 
number  of  free  days  for  this  year  was  36,763,  showing  an 
increase  over  last  year.  The  number  of  soldiers  treated 
during  1904  was  43,  with  1,029  days'  occupancy,  whilst  in 
1905  there  were  50  soldiers  with  a  total  of  1,105  days '  occu- 
pany,  showing  an  increase  in  this  department  also. 

"A  modest  two-story  brick  stable  has  been  erected  upon 
the  site  of  the  old  frame  one  destroyed  by  fire,  which  will 
furnish  adequate  room  for  our  stock  and  ambulances. 

"  Receipts  for  the  fiscal  year  were  $110,290.82,  made  up 
as  follows: 

Pay  patients $44,259  60 

Ground  rent   4,000  00 

State  of  Pennsylvania 41,400  63 

Interest  and  dividends 10,458  31 

Donations   9,710  10 

Insurance    22  73 

Suspense  account  439  45 

Total  receipts $110,290  82 

Total  expense  for  fiscal  year  was 134,369  74 

Deficit  for  year $24,078  92 

Cash  in  bank  Sept.  30th,  1905 $10,108  20 


'^  The  department  for  the  insane  at  Dixmont  admitted 
during  the  year  215  patients,  of  whom  133  were  men  and  82, 
women.  There  remained  in  the  Institution,  September  thir- 
tieth, 1904,  911  patients,  bringing  the  total  for  the  year  up 
to  1,126.    Thirty-six  were  discharged  restored,  79  improved, 

[  391  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

6  unimproved,  while  88  died.      The    lowest    number    of 
patients  was  899  and  the  highest  920.    Average  906. 

'^  Receipts  for  the  fiscal  year  were  $229,968.28.    made  up 
as  follows: 

Balance  in  treasury $27,401  91 

Donations   100  00 

State  of  Pennsylvania 96,791  97 

Interest 1,872  48 

Paid  by  patients 103,801  92 


Total  receipts $229,968  28 

Total  expense  for  fiscal  year  was 198,353  93 


Balance  on  hand $31,614  35 


' '  The  work  at  Dixmont  has  been  kept  at  as  high  a  stand- 
ard as  that  of  any  institution  of  its  character  in  the  country, 
owing  to  the  ability  of  Hon.  Wm.  M.  Kennedy  and  Hon. 
0.  C.  Townsend  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  that  of  its 
Superintendent,  Dr.  Henry  A.  Hutchinson. 

'^  The  general  kitchen  and  dormitory  building  is  all  but 
completed.  It  is  happy  in  design,  substantially  built  and 
thoroughly  adapted  to  the  work  for  which  it  was  designed. 

^'  To  provide  for  the  contagious  diseases  that  spring  up 
from  time  to  time,  a  well-equipped  isolation  hospital  of 
brick  is  being  erected,  with  adequate  facilities  for  both 
sexes,  and  of  sufficient  size  to  meet  the  usual  emergencies 
dictated  by  experience. 

"  The  farm  continues  to  supply  the  wants  in  the  way  of 
vegetables  at  a  reasonable  cost;  and  a  new  gas  well,  of 
greater  capacity  than  any  heretofore  drilled  in  this  vicinity, 
gives  us  an  ideal  and  cheap  fuel. 

''We  trust  that  the  Western  Pennsylvania  Hospital  will 
continue  to  appeal  to  your  generosity,  as  we  are  doing  a 
work  for  a  great  mass  of  poor  people,  who  must  look  to  the 
State  for  relief  in  time  of  sickness  or  temporary  disability 
by  injury. 

''  I  wish  to  thank  the  directors  of  both  departments  of  the 
hospital  for  the  zeal  displayed  in  the  mangement  and  better- 
ment of  the  institutions  under  their  care.     *     *     *  " 

[  392  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  the  Western  Pennsylvania 
Hospital,  held  in  July,  1906,  it  was  unanimously  voted  to 
conduct  the  West  Penn  and  Dixmont  hospitals  as  separate 
organizations.  The  meeting  was  short;  no  business  was 
transacted,  save  the  passage  of  the  resolution  of  separation. 
About  thirty  members  of  the  corporation  being  present. 
Under  the  new  conditions,  a  charter  will  be  secured  for  Dix- 
mont,  the  corporation  to  be  known  as  the  Dixmont  Hos- 
pital for  the  Insane.  No  change  in  the  policy  of  either  in- 
stitution is  contemplated. 


St.  Francis'  Hospital. 

During  the  November  of  1866,  three  Sisters  from  the 
order  of  St.  Francis,  located  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  came  to 
Pittsburgh  with  the  evident  purpose  of  establishing  a  hos- 
pital in  Pittsburgh,  for  very  shortly  after  their  arrival,  they 
purchased  a  little  more  than  six  acres  of  ground  on  what  is 
now  Thirty-fourth  street,  and  proceeded  to  open  a  hospital 
in  a  small  building  on  the  grounds.  The  hospital  was  incor- 
porated June  twentieth,  1868.  The  capacity  was  limited  to 
fifty  patients.  This  small  hospital  soon  passed  through  the 
experience  of  the  other  hospitals  already  in  the  city;  it  was 
too  small,  therefore,  in  1872,  a  larger  and  more  substantial 
building  was  erected,  four  stories  high,  with  a  wing  contain- 
ing a  chapel.  The  location  of  this  hospital  was  extremely 
advantageous,  standing  on  high  ground.  An  insane  depart- 
ment for  women  was  added,  in  1885,  and  in  1891  a  new 
building,  exclusively  for  the  insane,  was  projected  and  built. 
This  accommodated  about  one  hundred  patients  of  both 
sexes. 

The  hospital  has  been  added  to  both  in  the  way  of  in- 
terior improvement  and  in  additions  at  various  times  since, 
and  is  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  best  hospitals  in  the  city, 
owing  to  the  efficiency  of  the  men  who  have  served  as  physi- 
cians and  these  Sisters  of  St.  Francis,  whose  reputation  as 
nurses  is  wide-spread. 

The  present  Staff  Physicians  are:  T.  M.  T.  M'Kennan, 
E.  C.  Stuart,  T.  L.  Disque,  J.  C.  Dunn,  R.  P.  Huggins,  A.  M. 
M'Cabe,  C.  C.  Hersman,  Theo.  Diller,  R.  J.  Behan,  J.  A. 

[  393  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Hawkins,  G.  E.  Curry,  J.  K.  Sterrett,  J.  E.  Willets,  George 
Ely,  E.  A.  Weisser,  and  K.  Emmerling. 

HOMCEOPATHIC    HOSPITAL. 

The  practitioners  of  Homoeopathy  in  Allegheny  county 
having  failed  to  obtain  accommodations  in  the  existing  hos- 
pitals of  the  city,  for  those  who  preferred  this  practice 
(both  pay  and  charity  patients),  it  was  determined  to 
establish  a  hospital  and  dispensary  in  which  this  treatment 
should  prevail.  A  liberal  policy  was  adopted  respecting  the 
medical  attendance  of  patients,  viz. :  paying  patients,  or 
those  not  a  direct  tax  on  the  charities  of  the  hospital,  could 
employ  a  physician  of  their  choice,  not  being  restricted  to 
any  school.  Accordingly,  late  in  the  year  1865,  the  grounds 
and  buildings  located  on  Second  avenue,  near  Smithfield 
street,  sixty-seven  feet  front  and  running  through  to  First 
avenue,  with  a  frontage  of  forty-seven  feet  on  the  latter,  be- 
longing to  James  B.  Murray,  was  secured  by  Drs.  Marcellin 
Cote,  John  C.  Burgher  and  H.  Hoffmann,  for  the  sum  of 
$22,000,  and  held  until  a  hospital  organization  was  effected. 
On  the  fourth  of  April,  1866,  a  charter  was  granted  by  the 
Legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  naming  as  corporators  a  num- 
ber of  citizens,  who  had  subscribed  liberally  toward  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  hospital.  On  the  ninth  day  of  April, 
1866,  a  board  of  trustees  was  elected  from  the  corporators, 
officers  chosen  and  the  work  of  organizing  and  equipping 
the  hospital  begun;  so  that  by  the  first  of  August,  with 
a  capacity  of  thirty-eight  beds,  the  doors  were  thrown 
open  for  the  reception  and  care  of  patients,  with  ceremonies 
appropriate  to  the  occasion,  the  Hon.  Wilson  McCandless, 
Judge  of  the  U.  S.  District  Court,  presiding. 

The  original  corporators  and  officers  of  the  institution 
were  as  follows:  Wilson  McCandless,  William  Frew, 
James  B.  Murray,  Jas.  Caldwell,  A.  M.  Wallingford,  Annie 
Murray,  Mary  E.  Moorhead,  Letitia  Holmes,  M.  K.  Moor- 
head,  Wm.  Metcalf,  J.  H.  Hillerman,  J.  M.  Knapp,  J.  H. 
Nobbs,  W.  A.  Gildenfenny,  0.  Metcalf,  William  Crawford, 
Jr.,  E.  Miles,  E.  Dithridge,  A.  McFarland,  T.  S.  Blair,  R. 
W.  Burke,  W.  M.  Faber,  G.  H.  Burke,  William  T.  Shannon, 

[  394  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

H.  W.  Oliver,  Jr.,  George  Bingham,  J.  G.  Backofen,  Mary 
Cote,  E.  R.  Burke,  Marcy  Caldwell,  Sarah  L.  Woods,  E.  C. 
Donaldson,  Jennie  Blair,  Jas.  Colvin  and  S.  Miles. 

At  the  first  election  for  trustees,  held  the  ninth  day  of 
April,  1866,  the  following  gentlemen  were  chosen: 

Trustees  for  three  years:  Hon  Wilson  McCandless, 
Major  William  Frew,  James  B.  Murray,  William  Metcalf 
Edwin  Miles,  A.  M.  Wallingford,  H.  W  Oliver,  Jr.,  J.  C 
Burgher,  M.  D.  Trustees  for  two  years :  George  Bingham 
W.  W.  Mair,  W.  T.  Shannon,  H.  Hofmann,  M.  D.,  Thos.  S 
Blair,  R.  W.  Burke,  W.  A.  Herron,  James  A.  Hutchinson 
Trustees  for  one  year:  H.  Holdship,  Jas.  Caldwell,  John 
Shepard,  Edward  Dithridge,  Marcellin  Cote,  M.  D.,  D.  H. 
Fralich,  W.  A.  Gildenfenny,  A.  McFarland.  At  the  same 
time  and  place  the  following  officers  were  elected  by  the 
trustees : 

President,  Hon.  W.  McCandless;  vice-presidents,  first. 
Major  William  Frew ;  second,  James  B.  Murray ;  secretary, 
J.  C.  Burgher,  M.  D. ;  treasurer,  Geo.  Bingham;  librarian, 
W.  W.  Mair;  Executive  Committee,  Marcellin  Cote,  chair- 
man ;  Edwin  Miles,  J.  C.  Burgher,  M.  D.,  with  the  president 
and  vice-presidents  ex-ofjicio. 

Medical  Staff,  1866-67:  Physicians,  H.  Hofmann,  F. 
Taudte,  L.  M.  Rousseau,  J.  E.  Barnaby.  Surgeons,  J.  C. 
Burgher,  L.  H.  Willard,  D.  Cowley,  J.  H.  McClelland.  Ac- 
coucheurs, J.  F.  Cooper,  D.  Cowley.  Dispensary  Depart- 
ment, the  resident  physician. 

The  first  president  of  the  corporation,  the  Hon.  Wilson 
McCandless,  served  in  this  capacity  for  three  years,  when 
failing  health  compelled  him  to  decline  the  active  manage- 
ment of  its  affairs.  He  subsequently  served  as  vice-presi- 
dent, continuing  in  that  office  until  the  end  of  his  life.  He 
died  on  the  thirtieth  day  of  June,  1882.  Judge  McCandless 
was  succeeded  by  Major  William  Frew,  who  was  elected 
president,  April,  1869.  He  continued  in  the  capacity  of 
president,  by  repeated  re-election,  until  the  close  of  his  life, 
March  ninth,  1880.  Major  Frew  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
William  H.  Barnes.  The  early  history  of  the  institution 
would  not  be  complete  without  special  mention  of  the  first 
chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee,  Dr.  Marcellin  Cote, 

[  395  ] 


THE    HISTORY    OF   PITTSBURGH 

to  whose  energy,  during  the  first  three  years  of  the  institu- 
tion, is  in  large  measure  due  its  subsequent  success.  Dr. 
J.  C.  Burgher  succeeded  Dr.  Cote  as  chairman  of  this  im- 
portant committee  for  nearly  ten  years.  Dr.  Burgher  was 
succeeded  by  Dr.  J.  F.  Cooper,  and  he  in  turn  by  Dr.  J.  H. 
McClelland. 

A  powerful  auxiliary  to  the  management  was  the  Ladies ' 
Association  of  the  hospital.  Mrs.  William  Thaw,  presi- 
dent; Mrs.  S.  Jarvis  Adams,  Mrs.  George  Anderson,  vice- 
presidents;  Mrs.  George  L.  McCoy,  secretary;  Miss  Marian 
E.  Bingaman,  treasurer.  Honorary  Members,  Mrs.  Ed- 
ward Gregg,  Mrs.  Alexander  King,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Schwartz, 
Mrs.  George  Westinghouse.  Managers,  Mrs.  S.  Jarvis 
Adams,  Mrs.  George  H.  Anderson,  Miss  Marian  Bingaman, 
Mrs.  Josiah  Cohen,  Mrs.  H.  E.  Collins,  Mrs.  Robert  P.  Duff, 
Mrs.  E.  M.  Ferguson,  Mrs.  H.  C.  Frick,  Mrs.  H.  W.  Fulton, 
Mrs.  Thomas  J.  Gillespie,  Mrs.  H.  E.  Gregg,  Mrs.  G.  W. 
Hailman,  Miss  Martha  King,  Miss  E.  B.  Mackintosh,  Mrs. 
James  R.  Mellon,  Mrs.  M.  K.  Moorhead,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Moor- 
head,  Mrs.  James  McCrea,  Mrs.  Geo.  L.  McCoy,  Mrs.  D.  C. 
Noble,  Miss  Mary  Oliver,  Mrs.  H.  0.  Patch,  Mrs.  Geo.  L. 
Peck,  Mrs.  W.  B.  Rodgers,  Mrs.  Norman  M.  Smith,  Mrs. 
William  W.  Smith,  Mrs.  Frank  Sneed,  Mrs.  D.  G.  Stewart, 
Mrs.  Wm.  Thaw,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Turner,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Vandergrift, 
Mrs.  L.  H.  Willard,  Mrs.  Joseph  Wood,  Miss  Woods. 

Not  only  do  the  members  of  this  society  devote  much 
time  and  attention  to  a  supervision  of  the  internal  aft'airs 
of  the  hospital,  supplying  clothing  and  many  needed  deli- 
cacies to  the  sick,  but  by  systematic  effort  they  raise  large 
sums  of  money  toward  the  maintenance  of  the  hospital. 

For  several  years  prior  to  1883  the  management  felt  the 
necessity  for  larger  and  better  accommodations,  and  many 
ineffectual  efforts  were  made ;  but  a  determination  to  raise 
$100,000  took  practical  shape  when  Mr.  William  Thaw,  of 
Pittsburgh,  agreed  to  give  $25,000  of  this  amount.  This 
was  supplemented  by  the  following:  Miss  Jane  Holmes, 
$15,000;  Mr.  Charles  J.  Clarke,  $5,000;  Mr.  William  Met- 
calf,  $1,000;  Mr.  W.  H.  Barnes,  $1,000;  Col.  J.  M.  Schoon- 
maker,  $1,000;  Mr.  H.  J.  Bailey,  $500;  Mr.  J.  D.  Layng, 
$500j  Mr.  M.  K.  Moorhead,  $500;  Mr.  Edwin  Miles,  $500; 

[  396  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  T.  Shannon,  $500 ;  J.  N.  McCullough,  $400 ; 
Mr.  0.  Metcalf ,  $250 ;  Frank  Semple,  $100.  This  made  the 
sum  of  $50,000.  The  Legislature  then  appropriated  the 
sum  of  $50,000,  thus  completing  the  amount  of  $100,000, 
In  order  to  give  space  for  the  new  building  it  became  neces- 
sary to  purchase  adjoining  ground  to  the  extent  of  seventy 
feet,  running  through  from  First  to  Second  avenue.  The 
means  to  accomplish  this  was  advanced  by  one  who  had 
already  done  much  for  the  hospital.  The  contract  for 
building  the  hospital  was  let  to  Mr.  Robert  McCain  for  the 
sum  of  $106,000,  which  did  not  include  the  plumbing  and 
some  other  items.  The  hospital  was  designed  to  have  a 
capacity  for  200  beds.  Mr.  J.  U.  Barr  was  chosen  the 
architect  and  superintendent,  and  the  work  was  placed  in 
charge  of  a  building  committee  appointed  from  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  consisting  of  Dr.  J.  F.  Cooper,  chairman;  H. 
J.  Bailey,  Dr.  J.  C.  Burgher,  Wm.  Crawford,  Jr.,  and  Jos. 
D.  Wicks ;  with  W.  H.  Barnes,  president  of  the  corporation, 
and  Dr.  Jas.  H.  McClelland,  chairman  of  the  Executive 
Committee,  ex-officio. 

The  Ladies'  Association  went  actively  to  work  with  a 
special  view  to  furnishing  the  hospital.  To  this  end  they 
projected  an  extensive  fair  and  festival  in  December,  1883, 
to  be  held  in  the  new  building,  then  nearly  finished.  Their 
efforts  were  crowned  with  success,  realizing  $17,032.57,  and 
securing  at  the  same  time  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of 
$6,054  additional.  This  profitable  undertaking  was  known 
as  the  ' '  Homoeopathic  Hospital  House  Warming. ' '  In  all, 
from  various  sources,  there  was  raised  for  this  great  object, 
from  the  State  $100,000,  and  from  private  contributors 
about  $133,000.  During  the  two  or  three  years  in  which 
the  financial  problem  was  in  process  of  solution  by  the 
Executive  Committee,  the  Committee  on  Plans,  under  the 
chairmanship  of  Dr.  J.  F.  Cooper,  continued  its  labors ;  and 
after  repeated  reports  and  revisions,  journeying  at  home 
and  abroad,  finally  completed  plans,  which  were  submitted 
to  the  trustees  and  adopted  by  them  January  seventeenth, 
1882. 

The  plans  and  specifications  called  for  a  substantial 
brick  structure,  four  stories  high,  consisting  of  two  main 

[  397^] 


THE    HISTORY    OF   PITTSBURGH 

buildings,  one  on  First  avenue  and  one  on  Second  avenue, 
with  a  central  connecting  building. 

The  new  structure  was  opened  to  patients  on  April  first, 
1884,  after  an  interruption  of  hospital  work  for  two  years. 
The  formal  opening,  however,  was  deferred  until  April 
fifteenth,  upon  which  occasion  appropriate  ceremonies  were 
held. 

Among  the  incidents  of  the  following  year  was  the 
organization  of  a  training  school  for  nurses,  which  was 
opened  by  the  admission  of  eight  pupils.  During  the  year 
1885  the  average  number  of  patients  treated  per  day  was 
over  45,  while  during  the  last  quarter  of  the  year  there  was 
an  average  of  eighty-eight  patients  in  the  hospital  daily. 
The  second  year  of  the  continuance  of  the  institution  in  its 
new  building  was  marked  by  a  legacy  of  $10,000  from  the 
estate  of  Miss  Jane  Holmes.  Subsequently  Mrs.  Robert 
Pitcairn  presented  the  institution  with  an  ambulance,  and 
Mrs.  William  Thaw  supplied  the  horses  for  its  use.  Ad- 
joining buildings  were  purchased  for  a  laundry  and  as  a 
pavilion  for  cases  of  infectious  disease.  At  a  meeting 
held  April  ninth,  1889,  a  deed  and  declaration  of  trust  was 
created,  under  which  an  endowment  fund  was  commenced, 
and  the  Fidelity  Title  and  Trust  Company,  of  Pittsburgh, 
was  designated  to  hold  in  perpetuity  such  funds,  gifts,  and 
securities  as  might  be  donated  to  the  hospital  for  the  en- 
dowment fund.  The  fund  commenced  its  operation  with 
securities  amounting  to  about  $12,000  on  deposit. 

During  the  year  ending  March  thirty-first,  1891,  1,634 
patients  were  treated  in  the  hospital,  of  which  1,284  were 
charity  patients,  the  daily  average  being  ninety-nine 
patients.  During  the  same  time  14,160  prescriptions  were 
issued  from  the  dispensary,  thus  showing  the  extent  of  the 
business  of  the  institution.  The  endowment  fund  for  the 
same  interval  was  increased  by  a  bequest  from  Mr.  William 
Thaw  of  $25,000,  a  donation  of  $5,000  from  Mr.  David  Sut- 
ton, donations  amounting  to  $2,400  from  J.  B.  D.  Meeds,  and 
a  bequest  from  Mrs.  Eliza  Hartley  of  $500. 

During  the  year  ending  March  thirty-first,  1892,  the 
hospital  was  enabled  to  obtain  facilities  for  a  complete  eye 
and  ear  dispensary,  and  the  most  improved  instruments 

[  398  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

and  apparatus  were  obtained  from  abroad.  An  important 
addition  to  the  hospital  organization  was  subsequently 
effected  by  which  an  annex  four  stories  high  was  con- 
structed. This  was  used  for  the  eye  and  ear  dispensary  on 
the  first  floor.  The  suggestion  of  the  building  came  from 
the  president  of  the  Ladies'  Association,  Mrs.  William 
Thaw,  and  was  largely  carried  into  effect  through  her 
efforts.  The  cost  of  the  building  was  about  $27,500,  exclu- 
sive of  equipment. 

The  institution  was  so  imfortunate  during  1893  as  to 
admit  a  case  of  small-pox.  The  patient  was  at  once  removed, 
upon  the  nature  of  the  disease  being  ascertained,  to  the 
Municipal  Hospital,  but  several  cases  subsequently  de- 
veloped in  the  building.  On  November  twenty-second,  1893, 
the  city  authorities  established  a  quarantine  against  the 
hospital,  which  was  strictly  maintained  until  December 
thirteenth.  The  whole  edifice  was  afterwards  subjected  to 
a  thorough  course  of  fumigation  and  disinfection,  and  tlie 
whole  interior  of  the  building  was  repainted  and  varnished. 

In  February,  1894,  the  doors  were  again  thrown  open,  and 
in  less  than  two  weeks  everything  was  in  full  operation. 

The  record  of  the  year  ending  March  thirty-first,  1897, 
showed  that  1,716  patients  had  been  admitted,  and  that  one 
hundred  and  seven  additional  patients  remained  under 
treatment.  Of  this  entire  number  1,491  were  on  the  charity 
list.  The  daily  average  number  of  patients  was  ninety- 
seven.  The  total  number  of  ambulance  calls  was  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-six,  the  total  number  of  calls  from  out- 
patients to  the  dispensaries  was  14,445.  In  the  eye  and 
ear  dispensary  the  number  of  applications  for  treatment 
was  4,449.  The  cost  of  maintaining  the  plant  in  operation 
for  the  year  was  $50,056.13,  and  taking  everything  into 
account,  the  cost  of  each  patient  per  diem  was  $1.35. 

In  the  report  of  the  Executive  Committee  for  1905  the 
declaration  is  made  that  the  hospital  has  reached  the  limit 
of  its  capacity,  and  that  the  location  has  long  since  ceased 
either  to  be  pleasant  or  desirable.  This  being  fully  recog- 
nized as  the  true  state  of  affairs,  another  site  for  the  hospi- 
tal has  been  chosen  on  Centre  avenue  in  the  Shady  Side 
district.     Thoroughly  accessible  to  the  Shady  Side  station 

[  399  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

and  on  high  ground,  where,  being  aware  of  the  past  history 
of  this  institution,  the  community  has  entire  faith  that  the 
hospital  will  develop  its  usefulness. 

The  hospital,  since  its  establishment  in  1866,  has  treated 
45,000  patients.  It  is  impossible  to  imagine  what  would  be 
the  outcome  in  these  great  turbulent  cities  of  to-day  were 
it  not  for  the  help  of  the  hospitals. 

The  Medical  Board  is  composed  of:  C.  C.  Rinehart, 
M.  D.,  consulting  physician;  L.  H.  Willard,  M.  D.,  C.  P. 
Seip,  M.  D.,  S.  M.  Rinehart,  M.  D.,  E.  R.  Gregg,  M.  D., 
J.  H.  McClelland,  M.  D.,  C.  H.  Hofmann,  M.  D.,  W.  A. 
Stewart,  M.  D.,  R.  W.  McClelland,  M.  D.,  J.  H.  Thompson, 
M.  D.,  C.  I.  Wendt,  M.  D.,  W.  W.  Blair,  M.  D.,  H.  B.  Bryson, 
M.  D.,  J.  K.  Perrine,  M.  D.,  H.  A.  Roscoe,  M.  D.,  G.  A. 
Mueller,  M.  D.,  J.  C.  Calhoun,  M.  D.,  C.  F.  Bingaman,  M.  D., 
W.  J.  Martin,  M.  D.,  Z.  T.  Miller,  M.  D.,  W.  F.  Edmundson, 
M.  D.,  W.  D.  King,  M.  D.,  J.  B.  McClelland,  M.  D.,  Leon 
Thurston,  M.  D.,  M.  J.  Chapman,  M.  D.,  H.  S.  Nicholson, 
M.  D.,  R.  S.  Marshall,  M.  D.,  H.  W.  Fulton,  M.  D.,  V.  S. 
Gaggin,  M.  D.,  W.  Joline  Martin,  M.  D.,  R.  T.  White,  M.  D., 
F.  V.  Wcoldridge,  M.  D.,  Howard  W.  Taylor,  M.  D. 

Allegheny  General  Hospital, 

The  Allegheny  General  Hospital  was  granted  a  charter 
by  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Allegheny  county  on 
October  eighteenth,  1882,  and  while  the  first  steps  taken  were 
embarrassed  with  financial  difficulties,  the  institution  from 
the  time  of  its  opening  until  December  thirty-first,  1887, 
had  treated  982  cases,  at  a  cost  per  day,  per  patient,  of 
96.43  cents. 

In  1887  an  addition  was  made  to  the  original  hospital  by 
the  purchase  of  an  adjoining  three-story  commodious  house, 
a  portion  of  which  was  rebuilt. 

The  crowded  condition  of  the  wards  in  1890  made  it  a 
necessity  to  erect  an  annex,  this  supplying  an  additional 
cheerful  and  well-lighted  ward,  with  accommodation  for 
twenty-five  beds.  The  managers  were  also  enabled  through 
the  bequest  of  William  Thaw  to  apply  $20,000  to  the  pur- 
chase of  a  large  adjoining  lot,  the  balance  of  the  purchase 
money,  $25,000,  having  been  secured  through  a  loan. 

[  400  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

The  institution  received  very  material  help  from  the 
Ladies'  Society,  and  by  bequests  and  by  liberal  contribu- 
tions from  private  citizens. 

In  1903  it  was  acknowledged  that  the  condition  of  the 
building  was  such  that  to  continue  the  work  a  new  building 
must  be  erected.  This  was  undertaken  b}^  a  strong  com- 
mittee of  citizens,  the  Eev.  Maitland  Alexander,  Mr.  D.  E. 
Park,  Mr.  J.  N.  Davidson,  and  Mr.  Joseph  G.  Siebeneck. 
These  gentlemen  secured  the  necessary  amount  to  justify 
them  in  the  erection  of  a  magnificent  hospital  building, 
which  has  since  been  completed,  for  the  new  Allegheny 
General  Hospital.  Even  the  first  six  months  indicated  the 
desirability  of  the  new  building.  All  the  other  depart- 
ments increased,  and  the  hospital  is  on  the  high  road  of 
success. 

The  number  of  patients  treated  during  the  year  1905 
was  3,111 ;  emergency  cases  treated,  but  not  remaining  in 
the  hospital,  752 ;  in  the  dispensary  only,  531 ;  making  a 
total  of  4,394.     The  daily  average  during  th©  year  was  189. 

The  staff  at  present  is  composed  of:  W.  S.  Huselton, 
M.  D.,  X.  0.  Werder,  M.  D.,  H.  K.  Beatty,  M.  D.,  J.  H. 
Wright,  M.  D.,  0.  L.  Miller,  M.  D.,  C.  B.  King,  M.  D.,  C.  H. 
Voight,  M.  D.,  E.  G.  Herron,  M.  D.,  0.  C.  Gaub,  M.  D., 
J.  C.  Ohail,  M.  D.,  J.  Wolf,  M.  D.,  Adolph  Koenig,  M.  D., 
Samuel  McNaugher,  M.  D.,  F.  Blume,  M.  D.,  F.  F.  Simpson, 
M.  D.,  Harold  Miller,  M.  D.,  John  S.  Mabon,  M.  D.,  C.  C. 
Sandels,  M.  D.,  J.  A.  Lippincott,  M.  D.,  J.  C.  Duncan,  M.  D., 
Robert  Milligan,  M.  D.,  Wm.  B.  Ewing,  M.  D.,  Theodore 
Diller,  M.  D.,  T.  M.  T.  McKennan,  M.  D.,  T.  L.  Hazzard, 
M.  D.,  R.  H.  Boggs,  M.  D.,  R.  G.  Burns,  M.  D.,  David  Silver, 
M.  D.,  Theodore  J.  Elterich,  M.  D. 

The  South  Side  Hospital. 

The  present  South  Side  Hospital  is  the  outcome  of  two 
smaller  hospitals  that  have  existed  there  at  various  times. 
In  1871  a  pesthouse  was  erected  on  Thirty-fourth  street, 
but  Mr.  Ormsby  procured  an  injunction  and  prevented  its 
use  for  this  purpose.  Dr.  J.  M.  Duff  endeavored  to  start 
a  small  accident  hospital  in  1889.  This  was  successful,  for 
26  [  401  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

such  an  institution  was  extremely  necessary,  owing  to  the 
adjacent  mills.  In  1891  a  general  meeting  was  called  and 
a  large  number  of  people  responded.  This  meeting  was 
addressed  by  Drs.  Thomas  and  Duff  on  the  needs  of  the 
hospital,  and  immediately  thereafter  the  Ladies'  Aid 
Society  of  the  South  Side  Hospital  was  formed,  with  Mrs. 
McMillan  as  president,  and  the  work  of  this  society  is  the 
splendid  hospital  building  of  South  Twentieth  street.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  in  1893,  and  the  cost  of  the  present 
building  was  $150,000,  which  was  met  entirely  by  sub- 
scriptions. It  is  supported  by  State  aid,  patients'  fees, 
and  subscriptions.  The  work  of  the  hospital  is,  naturally, 
largely  emergency,  and  in  compliance  to  the  condition  of 
their  locality,  the  hospital  has  arranged  for  the  care  of 
contagious  diseases. 

This  much-needed  establishment  is  primarily  the  work 
of  F.  K.  Gearing,  A.  D.  Brewster,  M.  D.,  M.  A.  Arnholt, 
M.  D.,  John  Milton  Duff,  M.  D.,  Godfrey  Stengel,  T.  D. 
Thomas,  M.  D..  J.  O'C.  Campbell,  Thos.  Sankey,  Wal- 
lace Frost,  A.  H.  Heisey,  J.  L.  Lewis,  M.  G.  Frank,  Mat- 
thew Chambers,  and  J.  S.  Felker,  in  conjunction 
with  the  efficient  work  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  the  offi- 
cers of  which  are:  Mrs.  Samuel  S.  Miller,  Mrs.  Charles 
Schwarm,  Miss  M.  E.  Hare,  Mrs.  M.  B.  Redman,  Mrs.  John 
AUdred,  Miss  Margaret  Davis,  Mrs.  John  H.  Nusser,  Mrs. 
T.  G.  Jones,  Mrs.  Henry  Stamm,  Mrs.  D.  Challinor,  Mrs. 
J.  P.  Beech,  Mrs.  J.  P.  Kenney,  and  Mrs.  W.  H.  Donley. 

St.  John's  General  Hospital. 

Another  district  of  Pittsburgh,  long  without  this  class  of 
institution,  which  might  be  said  to  be  its  necessity,  was 
Woods  Run.  It  ministers,  of  course,  partly  to  the  accident 
cases  which  are  the  inevitable  result  of  the  work  in  the 
great  mills.  The  hospital  is  in  charge  of  the  Protestant 
Deaconesses  from  the  Mary  J.  Drexel  Home  of  Philadel- 
phia. The  original  Board  of  Directors  consisted  of  the 
Rev.  J.  H.  Schuh,  Mr.  G.  D.  Simon,  Mr.  J.  H.  Hespeneide, 
Mr.  James  W.  Arrott,  Dr.  W.  J.  Langfitt,  Mr.  W.  T.  Brad- 
berry,  Mr.  W.  H.  Conley,  Mr  Henry  Buhl,  Jr.,  Mr.  Alex- 

[  402  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

ander  Hamilton.  The  building  was  commenced  in  the 
Summer  of  1895,  and  when  completed  cost  about  seventeen 
thousand  dollars. 

The  Ladies'  Aid  Society  of  the  hospital  has  been  ex- 
tremely efficient  both  as  an  excutive  committee  of  the 
hospital  and  in  the  raising  of  money.  The  work  of  this 
hospital  is  another  of  the  answers  to  the  many  calls  for 
help. 

Passavant  Hospital. 

It  is  said  that  the  Passavant  Hospital,  first  called  the 
Pittsburgh  Infirmary,  is  the  oldest  Protestant  hospital  in 
America.  It  is,  at  any  rate,  the  oldest  Protestant  hospital 
in  Pittsburgh,  having  commenced  its  work  in  1849,  two  years 
after  the  beginning  of  the ''  Mercy."  Dr.  W.  A.  Passavant, 
with  his  wife  and  the  aid  of  the  Sisters  of  the  Institution 
of  the  Protestant  Deaconesses,  established  a  small  house 
for  the  care  of  the  sick.  The  neighborhood  objected  and 
the  mayor  and  council  requested  the  removal  of  the  institu- 
tion. In  compliance  with  this  request,  property  was  pur- 
chased at  the  corner  of  Roberts  and  Reed  streets,  where 
the  hospital  has  since  lived.  The  building  of  1851  was  out- 
grown and  the  beautiful,  substantial  and  convenient  build- 
ing of  to-day  was  erected  in  1895.  The  German  Deaconesses 
are  in  charge. 

But  this  charity,  for  it  has  always  been  that  in  the  most 
essential  sense  of  the  word,  is  due  to  the  Passavants ;  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Passavant  and  their  son.  This  son  was  one  of 
the  best  citizens  Pittsburgh  ever  had,  a  man  both  gentle 
and  strong,  who,  following  the  footsteps  of  other  good 
men,  instituted  for  that  strangely  afflicted  class  of 
mortals,  the  epileptics,  a  home  in  Rochester,  Pa.  These 
unfortunate  outcasts,  the  dread  of  the  unafflicted,  here  find 
refuge  and  in  some  cases  restoration.  Mr.  Passavant 's 
hands  were  upheld  in  his  undertaking  for  the  care  of  the 
epileptics  by  Mrs.  William  Thaw,  whose  great  generosity 
made  this  work  possible.  Many  other  women  of  Pittsburgh 
have  aided,  and  the  care  of  the  unfortunates  is  left  to  the 
Order  of  Protestant  Deaconesses. 

[  403  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 


The  Pittsburgh  Hospital  for  Children. 

The  generosity  of  Miss  Jane  Holmes  made  possible  this 
"  special  hospital,"  which  was  incorporated  the  eighteenth 
of  March,  1887,  and  the  present  building  opened  in  1890. 
In  compliance  to  its  charter  this  institution  is  entirely  free. 
If  there  is  room,  the  only  requirement  is  the  doctor's  cer- 
tificate for  the  small  sufferer. 

The  hospital  is  managed  by  a  Board  of  Lady  Visitors, 
and  has  been  throughout  its  career  exceedingly  fortunate 
in  the  way  of  gifts.  It  has,  of  course,  appealed  keenly  at 
various  times  to  men  and  women  whose  great  wealth  has 
been  powerless  to  prevent  the  suffering  or  to  save  the  lives 
of  their  own  children  and,  naturall}^  they  have  turned  im- 
pulsively to  help  this  institution.  The  redemption  of  the 
world  undoubtedly  lies  in  the  wise  expression  of  love  for 
children,  and  this  '^  special  hospital,"  largely  orthoepedic, 
though  a  contagious  ward  has  been  built,  is  but  one  of  the 
many  expressions. 

The  Eye  and  Ear  Hospital  of  Pittsburgh  was  organized 
in  1895.  This  special  branch  of  medical  science  has,  through 
this  institution,  ministered  to  the  relief  of  many  who,  pre- 
vious to  this  time,  had  been  compelled  to  suffer.  While  the 
Eye  and  Ear  Hospital  of  Pittsburgh  is  in  no  sense  a  charitj'^, 
it  must,  under  its  charter,  minister  without  charge  to  all 
those  who  suffer  from  any  diseases  of  the  e3^e  and  ear,  and 
who  are  unable  to  pay  for  such  treatment.  The  most  skill- 
ful specialists  of  the  city  comprise  its  staff  of  physicians, 
and  in  addition  to  the  board  of  officers,  consisting  of  the 
most  influential  women  of  Pittsburgh,  there  is  a  long  list  of 
patronesses  whose  co-operation  and  assistance  in  the  work 
of  the  hospital  has  been  most  beneficial. 

Tpie  Reineman  Maternity  Hospital  was  the  first  institu- 
tion of  its  kind  in  Western  Pennsylvania.  It  was  the  gift 
of  Mr.  Adam  Reineman.  This  institution  became  a  part  of 
the  Western  University  by  a  deed  of  conveyance  to  the  trus- 
tees in  1894.  The  building  has  been  enlarged  and  remodeled 
and  ministers  in  two  ways  to  the  necessities  of  the  com- 
munity, first  in  its  character  as  hospital,  and  second,  as  a 

[  404  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

means  of  instruction  to  the  members  of  the  graduating  class 
in  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Western  ITniversit}^ 

The  Rosalie  Home,  Foundling  Asylum  and  Maternity 
HospiTAi-  opened  its  doors  on  November  twenty-sixth,  1891, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  with  the  medi- 
cal department  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  X.  0.  Werder 
and  Dr.  Charles  S.  Shaw.  The  institution  met  much  opposi- 
tion from  some  people,  who  perhaps  justly  claimed  that  an 
institution  of  this  kind  is  unwise.  It  is  distinctly  said  that 
this  hospital  is  meant  for  two  classes  of  persons,  those  in 
whose  cases  there  is  a  desire  and  hope  to  preserve  indi- 
vidual character  and  reputation  of  family,  and  second,  those 
married  women,  who,  owing  to  pecuniary  circumstances, 
cannot  receive  the  care  they  need.  However,  even  if  the 
kindly  women  in  charge  are  accused  of  being  lenient,  Christ 
Himself  was  lenient  to  the  woman  who  repented;  and  the 
care  of  these  unfortunate  little  ones  must  surely  appeal  to 
every  member  of  the  community.  At  any  rate,  the  institu- 
tion has  prospered  amazingly,  and  a  Board  of  Managers, 
among  whom  are  the  best  and  strongest  men  of  the  city, 
stand  back  of  it  with  their  wealth  and  their  judgment. 

The  Bethesda  Home  is  the  city's  attempt  to  minister  to 
the  city's  shame.  It  is  indeed  right  that  the  State  should 
appropriate  money  for  the  final  care  of  the  women  it  fails 
to  protect.  That  is,  fails  to  protect  inasmuch  as,  knowing 
the  prevalence  of  vice,  it  does  not  authoritatively  prevent  it. 

The  Bethesda  Home  was  opened  in  1890,  and  has,  through 
the  management  of  capable  women,  the  appropriations  of 
the  State,  and  the  contributions  of  various  citizens,  con- 
tinued to  do  efficiently  the  work  for  which  it  was  designed. 

The  Curtis  Home  for  Destitute  Women  and  Girls  was 
organized  in  1893,  as  the  result  of  the  terrible  experience 
in  Pittsburgh  through  the  panic  of  1892,  and  the  shutting 
down  of  the  mills ;  for,  when  the  men  cannot  work,  the 
women  and  girls  are  destitute.  It  was  originally  chartered 
as  the  "  Moorhead  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union 
Home,"  but  the  title  was  changed  to  the  present  one  in  1897. 
The  work  has,  however,  become  permanent  and  is  recog- 
nized by  the  State,  wliich  at  various  times  has  made  mod- 
erate appropriations  for  its  maintenance. 

[  405  ] 


THE   HISTORY    OF   PITTSBURGH 

Among  the  charities  assisted  by  the  women  of  Pittsburgh 
is  The  Home  for  Aged  and  Infirm  Colored  Women.  It  was 
incorporated  in  1885,  a  modest  house  purchased,  and  the 
State  has  appropriated  one  thousand  to  fifteen  hundred 
dollars  annually  since  1891  for  its  maintenance. 

The  Home  for  Colored  Children.  Mrs.  Felix  Brunot, 
Miss  Jane  Holmes,  and  Miss  Jane  B.  Holmes  organized  this 
Home  for  Colored  Children  between  two  and  twelve  years 
of  age,  in  1880.  The  State  has  made  liberal  allowance  for 
this  charity,  and  it  is  one  upon  which  demands  are  exten- 
sively made. 

The  Children's  Aid  Society  of  Western  Pennsylvania 
dates  from  1885.  It  was  another  work  of  the  thoughtful 
women  of  Pittsburgh.  The  work  of  this  Society  is  carried 
on  in  an  office,  and  it  is,  just  as  its  title  indicates,  a 
children 's  aid  society.  The  children  are  sent,  as  their  cases 
may  require,  to  various  institutions. 

The  Western  Pennsylvania  Humane  Society  declares, 
in  the  second  section  of  its  charter,  that  the  ''  corporation 
is  formed  for  the  purpose  of  prevention  of  cruelty  to  ani- 
mals, children,  and  aged  persons."  This  bespeaks  the  bar- 
barism that  exists  among  us,  for  the  stories  that  the  officers 
of  this  society  can  tell  are  scarcely  credited  by  those  whom 
God  has  permitted  to  be  born  among  the  more  civilized; 
that  is,  the  gentler  of  His  people.  The  work  of  this  society 
has  been  carried  on  in  Pittsburgh  since  1874,  with  appro- 
priations from  the  State,  with  constant  contributions  from 
the  men  and  women  of  wealth,  who  realize  the  necessity  for 
the  work  which  this  society  undoubtedly  accomplishes. 

The  Pittsburgh  Association  for  the  Improvement  of 
THE  Poor  was  first  organized  December  fifteenth,  1875. 
This  was  again  a  movement  that  grew  into  a  systematized 
organization  through  demand.  The  winter  of  1874  and 
1875  in  Pittsburgh  must  always  be  remembered  for  its 
severity.  There  were  many  reasons  for  destitution,  and 
it  was  impossible  to  relieve  this  without  system.  The  plan 
of  work  was  to  divide  the  city  into  districts,  each  of  such 
size  that  the  Visitors  could  investigate  all  the  cases  re- 
ported to  the  office  within  each  limit.  It  is  the  duty  of  these 
Visitors  not  only  to  help  materially  such  cases  as  require 

[  406  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

it,  but  to  endeavor  to  lift  these  people  to  a  higher  level. 
The  work  accomplished  by  this  organization  is  practically 
incalculable. 

KiNGSLEY  House.  This  house  for  *'  settlement  work  '* 
was  founded  in  1894,  through  the  energy  of  Dr.  George 
Hodges,  then  the  rector  of  Calvary  Church.  Like  Hull 
House,  in  Chicago,  and  the  various  settlements  in  New 
York,  its  purpose  is  the  improving  of  the  ethical,  social,  and 
economic  conditions  among  the  less  fortunate  class.  The 
success  of  Kingsley  House  has  been  phenomenal,  due  to 
the  thoughtful  and  steadfast  work  of  the  men  and  women 
who  inaugurated  and  who  have  carried  it  on.  The  Lillian 
Home  is  a  country  house  and  is  filled  during  the  summer 
with  relays  of  mothers  and  children,  sent  for  two  weeks' 
vacation.  It  is  this  class  of  work  that  will  finally  eradicate 
the  worst  evils  that  exist  in  the  slums  of  the  cities. 

The  Pittsburgh  Newsboys'  Home  began  with  a  meeting 
held  on  the  fifteenth  of  March,  1885.  In  1887  it  moved  to  a 
building  on  Old  avenue,  and  an  agitation  was  started  to 
raise  thirty  thousand  dollars  to  erect  a  new  building.  Fore- 
front in  this  was  the  Press.  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Schenley  do- 
nated the  lot,  which  is  an  exceedingly  valuable  one,  bounded 
by  Forbes  and  Shingiss  streets  and  Sixth  avenue.  Mr. 
C.  L.  Magee,  always  an  intimate  friend  of  the  newsboys, 
sent  his  check  for  ten  thousand  dollars,  which,  with  the 
Press  fund,  the  thirty  thousand  dollars  necessary  were  pro- 
cured and  the  charter  obtained  in  1888,  the  result  being  the 
stately  and  capacious  Home  for  the  "  newsies."  The  num- 
ber of  boys  taken  care  of  is  about  sixty.  They  are  given  a 
comfortable  home,  with  food,  lodging,  education,  and  cloth- 
ing, if  need  be.  Each  boy  is  expected  to  pay  according  to 
his  ability,  and  may  remain  until  he  has  reached  the  age 
of  sixteen.  In  case  of  illness  they  are,  of  course,  cared  for. 
The  Home  has  received  generous  appropriations  from  the 
State  and  has  the  aid  of  a  strong  committee  of  men  and 
women  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  boys. 

The  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny  Home  for  the  Friend- 
less was  organized  in  1861.  It  seems  as  if  this  must  be  one 
of  the  many  institutions  that  came  into  being  when  the  men 
of  Pittsburgh  fought  for  the  integrity  of  their  country,  and 

[  407  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

when  so  many  of  them  never  returned.  The  object  of  this 
Home  is  to  furnish  food  and  clothing  and  schooling  for 
neglected  and  friendless  children,  and  also  to  receive  tem- 
porarily and  permanently  those  children  whose  parents 
are  unable  to  care  for  them.  Captain  J.  J.  Vandergrift 
gave  a  summer  home  for  these  waifs  in  Alpsville,  ou  the 
B.  &  0.  Railroad.  It  is  an  endowed  institution,  but  is,  how- 
ever, partly  dependent  on  State  appropriation  and  the 
generosity  of  the  community. 

The  Protestant  Orphan  Asylum.  One  of  the  very 
earliest  charities  of  Pittsburgh  was  this  Protestant  Orphan 
Asylum,  organized  in  1833.  The  work  has  now,  as  it  has 
always  had,  the  co-operation  of  some  of  the  best  women  of 
the  city.  Mrs.  Letitia  Holmes  is  president  of  the  Board  of 
Managers  at  present.  The  home  itself  is  well  situated  and 
judiciously  managed. 

The  Protestant  Home  for  Incurables,  on  Butler  street, 
near  Fifty-fifth,  was  founded  by  Jane  Holmes,  a  woman  to 
whom  many  are  grateful.  It  was  incorporated  in  1883  and 
opened  in  1885,  and  provides  a  home  for  persons  suffering 
from  incurable  diseases.  The  building  is  large,  thoroughly 
equipped,  and  is  surrounded  by  seventeen  acres  of  ground. 
The  present  number  of  inmates  is  thirty-seven  women  and 
ten  men.  There  are  eighteen  attendants;  the  annual  ex- 
penses amount  to  about  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  This  is 
met  by  the  income  from  the  endowment,  fees,  and  donations. 
It  is  removed  from  the  obloquy  of  being  purely  a  char- 
itable institution,  as  an  admission  fee  of  two  hundred  dol- 
lars is  required. 

The  Western  Pennsylvania  Institution  for  the  In- 
struction OF  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  secured  from  the  State 
Legislature  in  1876  sixteen  thousand  dollars,  with  which  to 
open  a  home  for  this  particularly  afflicted  class.  It  was 
first  situated  at  Turtle  Creek,  and  was  afterwards  moved 
to  an  especially  erected  building  at  Edgewood  Park,  Pa. 
This  is  not  merely  a  home,  but  is  primarily  an  educational 
institution,  and  has  received  from  the  State,  since  1872, 
more  than  one  million  dollars,  and  many  large  bequests,  as 
well  as  donations  from  individuals.  The  girls  and  boys,  in 
addition   to    their   schooling,   are   taught   various   trades, 

[  408  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

through  which  means  it  becomes  possible  for  them  to  be 
self-supporting  citizens. 

The  Western  Pennsylvania  Institution  for  the  Blind. 
Christ  made  the  blind  to  see,  and  then  man's  ability  to  help 
this  afflicted  class  seemed  to  cease,  for  it  seemed  that  God 
alone  could  help  them.  But  again,  that  kindliness  and  sym- 
pathy that  had  relieved  the  sufferings  of  various  classes, 
induced  Jane  Holmes  to  leave  money  for  an  institution 
wherein  the  blind  should  be  educated.  For  this  purpose 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Schenley  gave  property,  beautifully  situated, 
and,  with  the  aid  of  the  State,  the  beneficence  of  these  two 
women,  under  the  management  of  the  Pittsburgh  Associa- 
tion for  the  Improvement  of  the  Poor,  the  plan  was  actual- 
ized. In  1890  the  really  splendid  building  was  ready  for 
pupils  —  pupils  rather  than  inmates,  for  it  is  in  no  sense 
a  retreat  for  blind  people,  nor  is  it  a  hospital  for  the  treat- 
ment of  diseases  of  the  eye,  but  it  is  strictly  educational  in 
all  its  interests.  It  is  the  aim  and  purpose  of  this  institu- 
tion to  give  the  blind  youth  of  this  section  of  the  State  a 
liberal  education,  and,  also  to  give  them  such  training  in 
the  way  of  music  and  instruction  in  industrial  pursuits  as 
will  aid  them  to  become  independent  and  useful  members 
of  society,  despite  the  incomprehensible  darkness  in  which 
they  must  dwell. 

The  work  of  the  Christian  Associations  covers  a  unique 
field,  but  it  is  so  intrinsic  that  once  initiated  it  becomes  a 
part  of  the  work  of  the  civilizing  done  in  the  cities.  This 
work  has  been  carried  on  with  unusual  efficiency  in  Pitts- 
burgh, the  social  conditions  of  the  place  lending  themselves 
with  peculiar  aptness  to  the  great  organizations. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  Pittsburgh. 

In  grateful  memory  of  Sir  George  Williams,  of  London, 
the  founder  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  who 
entered  into  his  rest  November  sixth,  1905,  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  of  Pittsburgh  adopted  resolutions. 
George  Williams,  on  June  sixth,  1844,  was  the  prime  mover 
in  a  company  of  twelve  young  men  who  met  together  and 
accomplished  the  parent  organization  of  what  has  grown  to 

[  409  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

be  one  of  the  largest  associations  in  the  world.  There  are 
now  seven  thousand  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations 
in  fifty  different  nations,  with  a  total  enrollment  of  about 
seven  hundred  thousand  men,  and  realty  holdings  and  other 
appurtenances  reaching  the  value  of  over  forty  million 
dollars.  Rumors  of  this  new  movement  reached  Pittsburgh 
in  1853-54.  Articles  appeared  in  the  papers  written  by  a 
student  in  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  William  E. 
Hunt.  The  initiation  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A,  in  Pittsburgh  is 
accordingly  due  to  the  young  student  mentioned  and  Robert 
C.  Totten,  who  called  the  first  meeting.  Among  the  promi- 
nent men  who  responded  were  A,  F.  Brooks,  S.  S.  Bryan, 
Daniel  Cooper,  William  Frew,  George  D.  Hall,  and  Thomas 
H.  Lane.  Very  shortly  the  pastors  of  the  Protestant 
churches  became  interested.  Meetings  were  held  through- 
out the  Spring  of  that  year,  and  the  result  was  the  organiza- 
tion that  has  meant  so  much  to  the  boys  and  young  men  of 
the  two  cities.  Mr.  R.  C.  Totten  was  the  first  chairman; 
Thomas  H.  Lane  was  the  first  president;  Daniel  Cooper 
and  William  Frew,  vice-presidents ;  George  D.  Hall,  record- 
ing secretary ;  Rev.  Henry  Reeck,  corresponding  secretary ; 
E.  D.  Jones,  treasurer,  and  Henry  Lavely,  librarian.  The 
constitution  was  modeled  after  the  New  York  association. 
The  first  home  of  the  Association  was  in  the  rooms  over 
O'Hara  and  Denny's  glass  warehouse,  corner  of  Market 
and  Third  streets.  Its  growth  was  very  rapid.  At  the  close 
of  eighteen  months  the  total  enrollment  was  one  hundred 
and  ten.  The  first  act  of  civic  beneficence  accomplished  by 
the  Association  was  the  soliciting  of  coal  and  the  distribu- 
tion thereof  to  the  needy.  Among  the  men  listed  are  found 
the  names  so  familiar  in  other  civic  departments.  In  1858 
they  established  daily  prayer  in  Liberty  Hall,  at  noon. 
With  few  retrograde  movements,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  went 
briskly  forward  until  that  memorable  day,  the  fifteenth  of 
April,  1861.  Very  often  throughout  the  years  that  fol- 
lowed there  were  not  men  enough  present  to  form  a  quorum, 
so  no  business  could  be  transacted.  In  1865  the  work  was 
taken  up  again,  but  so  many  of  the  old  "  young  men  " 
would  never  again  answer  the  roll  call  that  a  new  organiza- 
tion was  formed,  under  the  name  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  Pitts- 

[  410  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

burgh.  The  few  who  were  left  came  together  and  sent  the 
following  memorial  to  the  new  Y.  M.  C.  A.  It  read :  ' '  Re- 
solved, that  we,  the  officers  of  the  Pittsburgh  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  do  hereby  formally  dissolve  our  or- 
ganization and  hand  over  to  the  new  organization  our  name 
and  records,  and  wish  it  God  speed."  This  blessing  has 
certainly  carried.  The  Association  was  incorporated  July 
eighth,  1869,  and  has  grown  to  be  a  force  in  civic  life.  The 
evening  classes  for  young  men  include  Commercial  Law, 
Public  Speaking  and  Parliamentary  Law,  Engineering 
Mathematics,  Arithmetic,  Working  Mathematics,  Electricty, 
Metallurgy,  Chemistry,  Architectural  Drawing,  Mechanical 
Drawing,  Freehand  Drawing  and  Designing,  French,  Span- 
ish, German,  Italian,  English,  and  Spelling,  Vocal  Music, 
Bookkeeping,  Stenography  and  Penmanship.  The  Associa- 
tion owns  its  building,  on  the  corner  of  Penn  avenue  and 
Seventh  street,  erected  in  1883-84,  at  a  cost  of  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  There  have  been  established  four 
branches :  in  Lawrenceville,  on  the  corner  of  Butler  and 
Forty-third  streets;  in  East  Liberty,  corner  of  Penn  and 
Center  avenues ;  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Department,  at 
Twenty-eighth  street,  and  at  Pitcairn,  Pa. ;  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad's  Second  Department,  at  Forty- third  street, 
and  the  Allegheny  Valley  Railway.  Mr.  H.  Kirke  Porter 
is  the  president  of  the  present  board  of  trustees ;  Robert  S. 
Smith,  treasurer;  George  F.  Robinson,  secretary;  James 
Laughlin,  Jr.,  Thomas  M.  Armstrong,  W.  N.  Frew,  Joseph 
Buffington,  Durbin  Home,  James  H.  Lockhart  and  Robert 
A.  Orr. 

The  Young  Women's  Christian   Association. 

The  Young  Women's  Christian  Association  was  organ- 
ized in  the  Fourth  Avenue  Baptist  Church  in  1890.  The 
line  of  its  work  is  practically  the  same  as  the  Young 
Men 's  Association,  except  that  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  attempts  to 
extend  to  young  women  away  from  home  a  certain  pro- 
tection, either  in  its  own  building  or  in  the  selection  of  a 
proper  boarding  house.  The  first  Board  included  Mrs.  W. 
.R.  Thompson,  president;  Mrs.  H.  K.  Porter,  Mrs.  A.  H. 

[  411  ] 


THE   HISTORY    OF    PITTSBURGH 

Norcross,  Mrs.  J.  L.  Lewis,  Miss  A.  D.  Robinson  and  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Pence.  When  Mrs.  Thompson  was  compelled  to 
resign,  the  work  was  taken  up  by  Miss  S.  E.  Pence,  who  for 
ten  years  gave  to  it  lavishly  of  her  generous,  kindly  heart 
and  of  her  wisdom.  The  many  branches  of  benevolence  un- 
dertaken by  the  Association  can  be  best  understood  from  a 
statistical  list.  Library,  number  of  books  issued,  1,104; 
number  of  regular  boarders,  40;  transient  boarders,  246; 
lunches  served  to  the  public,  54,712 ;  dinners  served  to  pub- 
lic, 9,747;  number  of  students  enrolled,  Bible  classes,  200; 
gymnasium  classes,  358;  domestic  science  classes,  274;  do- 
mestic art  classes,  400;  educational  classes,  179;  making  a 
total  of  1,411.    Membership: 

Central  — 

Honorary 2 

Life 34 

Sustaining    108 

Associate 558 

Active 1,505 

2  207 

South  Side  Branch 225 

Lawrenceville  Branch   148 

Wilmerding  Branch  95 

468 

Total 2,675 


The  Central  Home  is  at  No.  120  Fifth  street,  Pittsburgh, 
Pa.  There  is  a  South  Side  Branch,  one  at  Lawrenceville, 
and  one  at  Wilmerding,  The  stated  object  being  "  The  im- 
provement of  the  ethical,  social,  intellectual,  and  spiritual 
condition  of  all  young  women."  Towards  this  great  end 
the  Association  is  certainly  striving. 

The  Presbyterian  Hospital  op  Pittsburgh  and  Alle- 
gheny has  continued  in  active  existence  since  1895.  The 
Columbia  Hospital  in  Wilkinsburg,  the  Children's 
Country  Home  in  Oakmont,  The  Christian  Home  for 
Girls,  The  Christian  Home  for  Women,  the  several  Day 
Nurseries  and  temporary  homes  for  little  children,  the 
GusKY  Orphanage,  the  various  Homes  for  the  Aged,  the 
House  of  the  Little  Sisters  of  the  Poor,  the  House  of 
the  Merciful  Savior,  the  Roman  Catholic  Asylums,  which 

[  412  ] 


HOSPITALS    AND    BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS 

have  been  mentioued,  the  United  Presbytekian  Home  for 
Aged  People,  the  Orphan  Asylum  of  the  same  denomina- 
tion, the  German  and  Protestant  Home  for  the  Aged,  and 
the  German  Protestant  Orphan  Asylum,  the  Florence 
Crittenton  Home  and  Rescue  Association,  the  Young 
Women's  Friendly  Institution  and  Young  Women's 
Boarding  Home,  one  being  in  Pittsburgh  and  one  in  Alle- 
gheny ;  such  are  the  homes  and  houses,  besides  the  Hospital 
Saturday  and  Sunday  Association,  the  Fruit  and  Flower 
Mission  which  is  not  necessary,  but  which  brings  light  to 
many  weary  eyes  and  a  smile  to  many  worn  faces.  All  these 
are  for  the  homeless  suffering,  and  in  addition,  a  splendid 
free  bath  establishment,  for  which  Mr.  Henry  Phipps  has 
done  so  much,  aided  by  a  fine  corps  of  women;  these, 
and  some  unmentioned,  are  the  benevolent  institutions  for 
which  the  citizens  of  the  community  have  expended  millions 
and  millions  of  dollars  gladly,  praying  only  for  the  relief 
of  the  afflicted  and  sore  distressed. 


[  413  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 


RECORDS  OF  FOUR  WARS 


War  of  1812.* 


*'  If  ever  a  nation  had  justifiable  cause  for  war,  that 
nation  is  the  United  States.  If  ever  a  people  had  motives 
to  fight,  we  are  that  people. ' '  Governor  Snyder  thus  sum- 
marized the  feeling  of  Pittsburghers  in  his  call  for  Pennsyl- 
vania's quota  of  fourteen  thousand  militia  in  1812.  The 
"  Pittsburgh  Blues,"  already  organized,  with  James  R. 
Butler  as  captain,  and  regarded  with  much  pride  in  the 
town,  responded  and  were  accepted.  Their  part  against 
the  really  disgraceful  conduct  of  Great  Britain  has  been 
recorded  in  the  *'  short  and  simple  "  journal  of  one  of  the 
company. 

Pentland  's  Journal. 

Extract  from  Mr.  Charles  Pentland  's  Journal,  whilst  per- 
forming a  tour  of  twelve  months'  service  as  a  member  of 
the  "  Pittsburgh  Blues,"  commanded  by  Captain  Butler, 
in  the  service  of  the  United  States. 

*'  September  10,  1812,  encamped  on  Grant's  Hill. 

"  Sunday,  20th,  decamped  under  orders  to  join  the  north- 
western army;  marched  one  mile  over  the  Allegheny  river. 

**  21st,  marched  to  the  Ohio;  waited  for  boats. 

* '  23rd,  embarked  on  a  boat ;  arrived  at  Beaver  the  24th. 

"  25th,  at  Steubenville. 

*  The  French  and  English  strife,  the  Revolution  and  the  border  wars  have 
been  treated  in  another  part  of  this  volume,  Frontier  Times. 

[  414  ] 


RECORDS   OF    FOUR   WARS 

"  26tli,  at  Wheeling,  remained  till  the  evening  of  the 
27th. 

'*  Oct.  1st,  arrived  at  Marrietta. 

''  Oct.  6th,  at  Gallipolis,  remained  till  the  8th. 

*'  Sunday,  11th,  Capt.  Alexander's  boat  struck  a  snag  and 
was  abandoned. 

"  12th,  arrived  at  Limestone  (Maysville). 

'*  13th,  at  night,  landed  about  two  miles  above  Cincin- 
nati. 

''  14th,  marched  into  Cincinnati,  encamped  below  the 
town,  and  remained  till  the  28th ;  then  marched  five  miles  to 
'  Hutchinson's.' 

"  29th,  marched  twelve  miles  to  Price's. 

'^  30th,  to  Lebanon. 

"  31st,  to  Waynesville. 

*'  November  1st,  to  Xenia. 

''  2nd,  to  Yellow  Springs. 

^*  3rd,  to  Springfield. 

''  4th,  to  Markle's. 

^'  5th,  marched  eleven  miles,  near  Darby. 

"  6th,  to  Franklintown,  the  Headquarters  of  the  north- 
western army,  and  remained  till  November  25th;  this  day 
marched  two  miles  on  a  secret  expedition. 

*'  26th,  marched  fifteen  miles,  over  Darby  Creek. 

''  27th,  marched  twenty-one  miles, 

''  28th,  to  Springfield. 

' '  29th,  near  to  Xenia. 

' '  30th,  into  Xenia,  and  remained  till  December  5th ;  then 
marched  into  Dayton,  and  remained  till  the  9th;  then 
crossed  the  Miami  river. 

''  10th,  marched  to  New  Lexington. 

"  12th,  marched  seventeen  miles.  The  object  of  the  ex- 
pedition was  promulgated. 

"  Sunday,  13th,  to  Granville,  and  crossed  the  river, 

"  14th,  marched  fifteen  miles  into  the  wilderness. 

"  15th,  twenty  miles. 

"  16th,  marched  all  day,  and  after  supper  continued  the 
march  till  daylight. 

''  17th,  marched  into  the  Indian  town,  on  the  Mississin- 
newa    river,   fifteen    miles    above    the    junction    with   the 

[  415  ] 


THE   HISTORY    OP    PITTSBURGH 

Wabash ;  captured  a  few  defenseless  Indians,  and  encamped 
in  the  village. 

' '  18th,  the  battle  of  the  Mississinnewa  was  fought.  The 
company  lost  one  man ;  John  Francis,  killed ;  Elliott,  Dodd, 
Read  and  Chess  wounded.  Total  loss  of  the  detachment, 
viz:  eight  killed  and  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  wounded. 
Decamped  and  returned  two  miles. 

''  19th,  marched  ten  miles  on  our  return  to  the  settle- 
ments. 

"  Sunday,  20th,  marched  twelve  miles. 

''  21st,  fifteen. 

**  22nd,  this  day  met  a  reinforcement  with  a  small  supply 
of  provisions. 

' '  23rd,  marched  to  within  twelve  miles  of  Greenville,  and 
met  another  detachment  with  more  supplies. 

"  24th,  to  Greenville. 

"  25th,  remained  till  noon,  and  marched  seven  miles. 

''  26th,  to  New  Lexington. 

"  27th,  to  Dayton,  and  remained  till  January  4th,  1813; 
this  day  marched  ten  miles. 

"■  5th,  to  Springfield. 

"  6th,  to  Markle's. 

"  7th,  to  Darby. 

"  8th,  to  Franklintown,  and  remained  till  the  third  of 
February;  then  crossed  the  river  to  Columbus,  and  some 
deserted. 

' '  4th,  to  Worthington. 

"  5th,  to  Delaware;  N.  M.  Mathews  joined  the  company. 

''  6th,  seven  miles. 

"  Sunday,  7th,  to  Scioto  Block  House. 

"  8th,  to  Upper  Sandusky,  and  joined  the  command  of 
Colonel  Campbell. 

''  9tli,  nine  miles. 

"  10th,  marched  as  usual,  but  were  detained  the  greater 
part  of  the  day  by  a  false  alarm ;  made  four  miles. 

''  11th,  to  the  Artillery  Block  House. 

*'  12th,  to  within  one  mile  of  Hull's  road. 

"  13th,  four  miles,  and  the  road  almost  impassable. 

"  Sunday,  14th,  remained,  prepared  sleds,  cars,  and  pro- 
cured forage. 

[  416  ] 


RECORDS    OF   FOUR   WARS 

' '  15th,  road  improved  by  severe  frost,  and  reached  Block 
house  swamp. 

''  16th,  to  within  four  miles  of  camp  Meigs,   and  en- 
camped on  the  bluff  of  Miami  river. 

"  18th,  into  Camp  Meigs,  Head  Quarters,  situated  at  the 
Miami  Rapids. 

' '  March  5th,  marched  to  Presque  Isle,  eighteen  miles ;  to 
reinforce  a  detachment  sent  to  burn  the  Queen  Charlotte, 
one  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  supposed  to  be  frozen  up,  and 
met  the  detachment  returned,  having  been  unsuccessful; 
returned  ten  miles  to  Swan  Creek. 
*  *  6th,  returned  to  Camp. 

**  April  26th,  siege  of  Fort  Meigs,  commenced  by  the 
enemy,  who  were  employed  in  erecting  batteries  till  the 
first  of  May,  when  they  commenced  cannonading,  which 
they  continued  till  the  5th,  when  a  reinforcement,  consist- 
ing of  United  States  volunteers,  arrived  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Greene,  and  we  were  ordered  out  to  cover 
their  entry  into  the  garrison,  which  was  effected  with  some 
loss  to  the  Kentucky  troops. 

' '  The  same  day  the  United  States  volunteers,  and  several 
other  companies  of  the  17th  and  18th  regiment,  made  a 
general  sortie,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  John  Miller, 
which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  about  forty-two  of  the 
enemj^'s  regiments,  and  the  routing  of  their  Indian  allies, 
with  a  considerable  loss  of  American  troops  in  killed  and 
wounded.  The  Pittsburgh  Blues  had  two  men  killed ;  James 
Newman  and  Mr.  Richardson ;  five  wounded ;  Willock,  Ross, 
Williams,  Dobbins  and  Wahrendorff.  The  attack  was  made 
on  the  enemy's  battery,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
at  the  same  time  by  General  Clay's  Kentucky  militia,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Dudley,  which  terminated  in  a  complete 
routing  and  capturing  of  that  detachment,  and  death  of  the 
commanding  officer.  The  enemy  was  quiet  and  on  the  tenth 
the  siege  was  declared  to  be  raised. 

"  May  11th,  Major  Ball's  squadron  moved  off,  and  Gen- 
eral Harrison  left  for  the  settlement. 

''  June  20th,  received  information  of  an  intended  attack 
by  the  arrival  of  a  Kentuckian  and  Canadian  from  the 
27  [  417  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

enemy's  quarters.  Expresses  were  despatched  and  prepa- 
rations made  for  the  reception  of  the  enemy.  Shortly  after- 
wards Colonel  Johnson's  regiment  of  Kentucky  mounted 
men  arrived,  and  immediately  thereafter  General  Harrison 
arrived  with  a  detachment  of  the  24th  infantry,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Anderson,  and  preparations  for  the  defence  of 
the  fort  were  continued.  General  Harrison  left  the  camp 
again;  Generals  Greene  and  Clay  in  command. 

''  July  18th,  Captain  Butler  returned  to  the  company 
(having  been  absent  to  improve  his  health). 

"  July  21st,  the  picket  guard  was  attacked  by  the  In- 
dians, and  several  men  were  killed  and  captured.  Lieuten- 
ant   arrived  in  camp  from  Portage  river  Block  House 

with  nine  men,  pursued  on  his  way  by  the  Indians. 

*'  22nd,  the  enemy  quiet. 

"  23rd,  an  express  arrived;  the  camp  was  alarmed  by 
the  firing  of  small  arms,  being  a  strategem  of  the  Indians 
(representing  the  fighting  of  two  bodies  of  men  at  a 
distance,  and  approaching  the  garrison),  which  was  in- 
tended to  draw  out  a  portion  of  the  American  troops  in  the 
fort. 

''  26th  and  27th,  all  quiet. 

"  28th,  the  enemy  descended  the  river. 

''  30th,  a  reconnoitering  party  was  detached,  who  re- 
ported that  the  enemy  had  retired,  and  the  siege  raised. 

''  August  18th,  the  Pittsburgh  Blues  received  orders  to 
march  to  camp  Seneca. 

*'  20th,  marched  to  Portage  river. 

"  21st,  to  camp  Seneca. 

"  28th,  to  Fort  Stevenson  at  Lower  Sandusky. 

' '  30th,  marched  for  Cleveland,  and  arrived  at  Vermillion 
river. 

**  September  1st,  arrived  at  Cleveland. 

"  3rd,  started  for  Beaver,  arrived  on  the  7th,  staid  the 
8th. 

' '  9th,  marched  to  Davis 's  tavern,  four  miles  from  Pitts- 
burgh. 

"  10th,  arrived  at  Pittsburgh.  Having  completed  a 
twelve  months'  tour,  were  discharged. 

[  418  ] 


RECORDS   OF   FOUR   WARS 

**  Names  of  the  Members  of  the  Pittsburgh  Blues. 

''  Captain  Butler,  Lieutenant  Mayer,  Ensign  Irwin,  Tro- 
villo,  Orderly;  Willock,  Third  Sergeant;  Patterson,  First 
Corporal ;  Pratt,  Pollard,  Park,  Parker,  Pentland,  J.  Davis, 
J.  B.  Davis,  Elliott,  Fourth  Corporal ;  English,  McMasters, 
Robinson,  Wilkins,  Haven,  Fourth  Sergeant;  Allison,  Gra- 
ham, Chess,  McFall,  Maxwell,  Mathews,  McClany,  McGiffin, 
Deal,  Ross,  Francis,  killed  in  the  action,  December  19th, 
1812;  Wahrendorff,  Newman,  killed  in  the  action  of  May 
5th,  1813;  Richardson,  do.;  Dodd,  died  in  service;  McKee, 
do.;  Watt,  Deemer,  Dobbins,  Thompson,  Read,  Third  Cor- 
poral; Neville,  Vernon,  Whiedner,  Swift,  Hull,  McNeal,  Fair- 
field, Jones,  Williams,  Second  Sergeant;  Barney,  Second 
Cororal ;  Morse,  deserted  from  Franklintown ;  Marcy,  Clark, 
Elliott,  officers;  F.  Richards,  officer's  servant;  W.  Richards, 
do. 

'*  Several  of  the  Pittsburgh  Blues  and  Petersburg  Volun- 
teers were  in  Fort  Stevenson,  which  was  so  gallantly  de- 
fended by  Captain  George  Croghan,  and  resulted  favorably 
to  the  Americans." 

Pittsburgh  furnished  a  part  of  the  rigging  for  Commo- 
dore Perry's  fleet,  and  a  number  of  cannon  were  cast  in  the 
foundry  on  the  corner  of  Fifth  avenue  and  Smithfield 
street.  These,  with  other  munitions,  were  sent  to  New  Or- 
leans to  General  Jackson  in  1814. 

Mexican  War  (1846-48). 

Congress  announced  on  the  thirteenth  of  May,  1846,  that 
a  state  of  war  existed  between  this  nation  and  Mexico ;  the 
overt  act  being  due  to  Mexico.  But  no  ringing  call  went  out 
from  Pennsylvania's  Executive,  Francis  Shunk,  that  vi- 
brated into  the  patriotic  hearts  of  men  as  when  Governor 
Snyder  had  proclaimed  their  ''  justifiable  cause  "  in  1812. 
We  were  the  aggressors,  who  harassed  the  Mexicans  in 
their  own  territory  to  commit  the  overt  act.  We,  the 
dwellers  in  the  land  of  the  free,  the  nurturers  of  weak 
nations,  the  drivers  of  slaves  —  we  made  it  impossible  for 
them  to  retain  their  national  and  personal  respect.     So, 

[  419  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

with  the  fear  of  the  weak  for  the  bully,  they  fought.  This 
was  not  a  '*  popular  "  war.  The  south  sent  two-thirds  of 
the  men  who  served,  for  the  slave-holders  desired  the  ex- 
tension of  territory  in  that  direction,  to  extend  slavery. 
The  New  England  States,  New  York,  and  Pennsylvania 
were  slack  in  their  sympathy  and  their  help.  But  when  the 
Government  announced  that  a  war  existed,  the  loyalty  that 
makes  truth  of  the  phrase,  '*  the  king  can  do  no  wrong," 
brought  forward  a  fine  contingent  of  Pittsburgh  men. 

Captain  John  Herron  took  out  the  Duquesne  Grays,  com- 
posed of  William  Trovillo,  W.  J.  Ankrim,  J.  W.  Hague,  J. 
D.  Mcllroy,  J.  G.  Robinson,  Robert  Anderson,  C.  G.  McLel- 
land,  J.  W.  Kinkead,  D.  S.  McClintock,  C.  W.  Hambright, 
J.  K.  Gardner,  R.  Cunningham,  H.  B.  Alward,  C.  W.  Blake- 
man,  J.  Baker,  W.  Burns,  H.  Bates,  H.  Bennett,  D.  Clam- 
mer,  James  Calhoun,  J.  H.  Cummins,  R.  D.  Collins,  I.  Sey- 
mour, Thomas  Davis,  John  Dalzell,  R.  C.  Drum,  Jonathan 
Downs,  Johnson  Elliott,  I.  S.  Ebbert,  Ralph  Frost,  T.  B. 
Furnan,  S.  A.  Glenn,  G.  S.  Glenn,  Charles  Glenn,  J.  Gil- 
christ, Charles  Hoffman,  J.  H.  Herod,  J.  S.  Hamilton,  F. 
H.  Jones,  F.  B.  Johns,  F.  J.  Kerr,  Pliny  Kelly,  T.  C.  M. 
Kelly,  H.  Krutzelman,  Joseph  Keenan,  V.  Knapp,  John 
Longstaff,  Aaron  Lovitt,  B,  G.  Leeper,  Seth  Loomis,  J.  H. . 
Mundy,  A.  Musgrave,  W.  F.  Mann,  D.  A.  Mitchell,  R.  F. , 
Miller,  A.  E.  Marshall,  Norton  McGiffin,  James  McDowell, , 
J.  McMinn,  James  Noble,  J.  S.  Negley,  James  Gray,  T.  R. , 
Owens,  John  Polland,  H.  C.  Patrick,  J.  W.  Parke,  W.  H. . 
Potter,  James  Phillips,  W.  Phillips,  W.  Phillips,  Jr.,  0.  H. . 
Rippy,  George  Reams,  Xlharles  Smith,  Robert  Smith,  S.  D. . 
Sewell,  S.  C.  Smith,  W.  Schmetz,  J.  Spencer,  F.  J.  Thomas, , 
T.  Thornburgh,  S.  Traver,  D.  S.  Vernoy,  F.  Vandyke,  Jr., , 
J.  Wilson,  B.  F.  Woods,  W.:  Winebiddle,  S.  Sloop. 

Captain  Alexander  Hays  took  out  the  Jackson  Blues, , 
composed  of:  J.  O'H.  Denny,  T.  A.  Rowley,  W.  A.  Charlton, , 
A.  Ferguson,  J.  Chalfant,  H.  Bateman,  R.  B.  Young,  A.  P. . 
Stuart,  R.  McKee,  H.  J.  Kennedy,  C.  E.  Bruton,  William  i 
Byerly,  George  Miller,  J.  Armstrong,  James  Armstrong, 
Thomas    Alexander,    E.    Barker,    Charles    Brison,    S.    D. 
Brown,  W.  S.  Barker,  Frederick  Bowman,  A.  G.  Beebee,  J. 
Bowden,  William  Blakely,  Samuel  Black,  Miles  Brown,  P. 

[  420  ] 


RECORDS   OF    FOUR   WARS 

H.  Cooley,  John  Condo,  J.  Dolan,  A.  McDonald,  E.  Ed- 
wards, Elias  Faust,  F.  Fannemiller,  George  Fengle,  D. 
Guyer,  John  Griffith,  W.  Graham,  John  Gibner,  S.  Hamil- 
ton, I.  C.  Hall,  D.  Hawkins,  J.  H.  Hover,  F.  Hointen,  D. 
Hager,  John  Hines,  William  Kennedy,  T.  Kain,  J.  Krine, 
William  Layburn,  J.  Lynbart,  J.  McCutcheon,  C.  Mo  wry, 
D.  McMurtrie,  M.  Mason,  T.  Mclntyre,  B.  McNoley,  J.  Mc- 
Caffrey, William  McDermott,  John  M.  Needs,  T.  B.  Ogden, 
J.  Parker,  J.  Regan,  C.  Ribald,  G.  Richeberger,  James  T. 
Shannon,  H.  M.  Shaw,  H.  Skiles,  J.  Sproat,  J.  Spitzley, 
John  Shaffer,  J.  Savage,  James  B.  Wright,  William  Sulli- 
van, G.  Wilhelm,  R.  Wilson,  J.  Walker,  Robert  Woods,  Otis 
Young,  Eli  Young,  S.  B.  Young,  C.  F.  Yohst,  James  Har- 
mon, Charles  McDermott,  James  F.  Morton,  J.  Barton,  W. 
H.  Worthington,  Bernard  Hose,  Isaac  Wright. 

According  to  some  reports,  Captain  Robert  Porter  led  a 
company,  known  as  the  Irish  Greens,  but  it  has  been  impos- 
sible to  trace  the  record  of  this  company.  General  Taylor 
and  General  Scott  won  this  great  war  against  Mexico,  the 
Mexicans  being  wretchedly  armed  and  poorly  commanded, 
and  we  gained  Texas  and  indirectly  brought  about  our  own 
Civil  War,  for,  according  to  the  Missouri  Compromise, 
there  could  be  no  slavery  in  Texas,  and  it  was  the  popular 
desire  of  the  South  that  slavery  should  be  extended  to 
Texas.  In  addition  we  added  later.  New  Mexico  and  Ari- 
zona. 

But  Pittsburgh  had  done  her  part;  she  had  sent,  for  her 
then  capacity,  immense  ordnance.  The  city  had  been  used 
as  a  point  of  departure  for  many  troops,  and  the  military 
feeling  in  the  city  throughout  the  war,  owing  to  this  cause, 
was  kept  warm.  The  bands  played  as  the  troops  departed ; 
and  the  bands  played  for  the  worn  and  bedraggled  troops 
that  returned,  for  the  climate  had  done  as  much  damage  as 
the  bullets.  Pittsburgh  had,  however,  met  and  fulfilled  her 
moral  obligation  to  the  Government  and  was  satisfied. 

The  War  of  1861-1865. 

The  first  overt  act  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  occurred 
in  Pittsburgh,  and  was  committed  by  the  Pittsburghers  in 

[  421  ] 


THE   HISTOEY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

refusing  to  allow  the  guns  which  Secretary  Floyd  ordered 
south  to  leave  the  city.  This  was  at  the  close  of  the  year 
1860.  The  men  of  the  town  arose  in  solid  mass  with  but 
one  instinct  regarding  the  removal  of  the  guns  from  the 
Arsenal.  Special  messages  were  sent  to  Washington  while 
the  guns  were  held,  but  even  if  the  order  had  not  been 
rescinded  they  would  never  have  left  Pittsburgh.  Of 
course,  now,  there  is  little  doubt  in  the  minds  of  most  men 
that  Secretary  Floyd's  honor  was  unimpeccable,  but  in 
those  days  it  was  a  question.  The  Dispatch  raged 
editorially :  "It  is  not  enough  that  we  are  to  be  sold  out  to 
the  Secessionists  —  the  Administration  would  bind  us  hand 
and  foot,  deprive  us  of  arms,  and  deliver  us  tied  neck  and 
heels  to  the  traitors  who  would  dissever  the  Union.  It  has 
already  ordered  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  heavy  guns 
from  the  Allegheny  arsenal  to  the  south,  not  to  defend  the 
Stars  and  Stripes,  for  which  our  skilfull  mechanics  made 
them,  but  to  batter  down  the  battle  flag  of  some  Lone  Star 
or  Rattlesnake  government.  The  order  came  a  few  days 
ago  to  ship  on  Wednesday,  December  twenty-sixth,  the 
following  guns :  To  Ship  Island  near  the  Balize,  mouth  of 
the  Mississippi,  21  ten-inch  Columbiads,  128  pounders;  21 
eight-inch  Columbiads,  64  pounders;  4  iron  guns,  32 
pounders;  to  Newport,  near  Galveston  Island,  Texas,  23 
ten-inch  Columbiads,  28  pounders ;  7  iron  guns,  32  pounders ; 
in  all  124  guns,  1  broadside,  which  would  throw  five  tons  of 
balls.  To  take  these  would  strip  us  entirely  of  cannon  and 
leave  us  disarmed  (so  far  as  cannon  are  concerned)  at  the 
mercy  of  traitors.  For  months  muskets  have  been  sent  to 
southern  points  where  rebels  have  seized  them  by  the  thou- 
sands. Shall  Pennsylvania  be  disarmed  and  Charleston 
be  allowed  with  impunity  to  seize  the  federal  arms  with 
which  to  overthrow  the  Union?  Shall  our  people  submit 
to  this?  "  The  newspapers  of  Pittsburgh,  closely  read, 
indicate  from  the  early  thirties  this  same  tendency  to  strong 
feeling,  so  that  when  the  incident  of  December,  1860,  really 
occurred,  it  was  no  surprise  to  the  readers  of  the  records  of 
Pittsburgh.  But  when,  on  the  eleventh  of  April,  1861,  the 
secession  movement  in  the  south  —  already  endorsed  by 
legislative  action  in  several  States  —  culminated  in  a  de- 

[  422  ] 


RECORDS   OF   FOUR   WARS 

mand  by  Gen.  Beauregard,  the  commander  of  the  rebel 
troops,  for  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter,  in  the  harbor  of 
Charleston,  Pittsburgh,  with  the  rest  of  the  north,  was 
totally  unprepared  and  entirely  amazed. 

*  The  refusal  of  Maj,  Anderson  to  surrender  was  fol- 
lowed, on  the  twelfth  inst.,  by  an  assault  on  the  fort,  which, 
after  a  two  days '  bombardment,  capitulated,  and  the  United 
States  garrison,  comprising  less  than  ninety  men,  left  the 
fort  on  the  fourteenth  inst.,  with  the  honors  of  war,  saluting 
their  flag.  No  loss  of  life  had  occurred  during  the  bom- 
bardment, but  by  the  bursting  of  a  gun  in  firing  the  salute 
two  men  were  killed  and  four  wounded. 

The  intense  excitement  existing  throughout  the  north 
culminated  in  the  announcement  of  the  attack  on  Fort 
Sumter.  Upon  the  fifteenth  of  April  the  President  issued 
a  proclamation  calling  upon  the  States  to  furnish  75,000 
militia,  to  suppress  the  rebellion,  and  summoning  an  extra 
session  of  Congress  on  the  fourth  of  July  following.  The 
quota  of  Pennsylvania,  under  this  call  for  troops,  was  fixed 
at  sixteen  regiments,  and  the  command  of  the  Western  Divi- 
sion of  the  State  assigned  to  Brig.-Gen.  Negley,  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  the  troops. 

The  call  for  volunteers  found  Allegheny  county,  like  all 
other  parts  of  the  State,  almost  unprovided  with  military 
organizations.  There  were  in  the  two  cities  ten  volunteer 
companies  —  the  Jackson  Independent  Blues,  Duquesne 
Greys,  Washington  Infantry,  Allegheny  Rifles,  Pennsyl- 
vania Dragoons,  Pittsburgh  Turner  Rifles,  Lafayette  Blues, 
Pennsylvania  Zouaves,  National  Guards,  and  United  States 
Zouave  Cadets  —  several  of  which  had  been  organized  dur- 
ing the  military  furore  following  the  visit  of  the  Chicago 
Zouaves  in  1860.  In  the  county  were  also  a  few  volunteer 
organizations  —  the  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  at  East  Lib- 
erty; AUiquippa  Guards,  M'Keesport;  Turtle  Creek 
Guards,  Turtle  Creek;  two  companies  in  Birmingham,  St. 
Clair  Guards,  Union  Artillery,  National  Lancers,  and  one 
or  two  others. 

The  greatest  enthusiasm  followed  the  announcement  of 
the  call  for  volunteers.     Scores  of  companies  were  set  on 

*  Anonymous  pamphlet. 

[  423  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

foot  and  tendered  their  services  to  the  Governor.  On  the 
fifteenth  inst.  recruiting  began  throughout  the  county,  and 
on  the  seventeenth  the  first  detachment  of  Turner  Rifles, 
eighty  men,  under  Capt.  Amlung,  left  for  Harrisburg.  The 
remainder  of  the  company,  which  was  organized  from  the 
German  Turner  Association,  left  on  the  following  day.  On 
the  same  day  the  Hannibal  Guards,  a  company  of  colored 
men,  also  tendered  their  services.  On  the  eighteenth 
Trovillo  's  Invincibles,  Robison  's  Light  Guards,  M  'Dowell  's 
State  Guards,  and  Gerard's  Pennsylvania  Zouaves  left  for 
Harrisburg,  followed,  on  the  twentieth,  by  a  ''  second  de- 
tachment," and  Rippey's  Scott  Legion,  Gallagher's  Shields 
Guards,  and  Alliquippa  Guards  of  M'Keesport.  On  the 
twenty-second  the  first  regiment  was  organized  in  Alle- 
gheny county  by  Gen.  Negley : 

Twelfth  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers. 

Colonel  —  David  Campbell,  of  Pittsburgh. 

Lieut.-Colonel  —  Norton  M  'GiflSn,  of  Washington. 

Major  —  Alexander  Hays,  of  Pittsburgh. 

Adjutant  —  G.  L.  Bonnaf on. 

Quartermaster  —  James  A.  Ekin. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant  —  Samuel  Walker. 

Surgeons  —  Drs.  A.  M.  Speer,  R.  M.  Tindle. 

Chaplain  —  Rev.  J.  J.  Marks. 

Co.  A  —  Jackson  Independent  Blues,  Capt.  Samuel 
M'Kee. 

Co.  B  —  Duquesne  Greys,  Capt.  John  S.  Kennedy. 

Co.  C  —  Firemen 's  Legion,  Capt.  John  H.  Stewart. 

Co.  D  —  Union  Guards,  Capt.  William  Tomlinson. 

Co.  E  —  Washington  Invincibles,*  Capt.  James  Arm- 
strong. 

Co.  F  —  Lawrence  Guards,f  Capt.  Edward  O'Brien. 

Co.  C  —  Monongahela  Artillery,*  Capt.  Robert  F. 
Cooper. 

Co.  H  —  Lawrence  Guards,*  Capt.  Daniel  Leasure. 

Co.  I  —  Zouave  Cadets,  Capt.  George  W.  Tanner. 

Co.  K  —  City  Guards,  Capt.  William  H.  Denny. 

*  Washington  county.  f  Lawrence  county. 

[  424  ] 


EECORDS    OF    FOUR   WARS 

At  the  same  time  a  battalion  was  organized  of  the  com- 
panies in  excess,  some  seven  or  eight,  of  which  Capt.  T.  A. 
Rowley,  of  the  Washington  Infantry,  was  elected  Major. 
A  regiment  was  subsequently  organized  at  Harrisburg,  the 
tenth  company  being  formed  of  the  men  in  excess  in  the 
other  companies,  and  Joseph  Browne  elected  Captain, 
This  was  afterwards  known  as  the 


Thirteenth  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers. 

Colonel  —  T.  A.  Rowley,  of  Pittsburgh. 

Lieut.-Colonel  —  John  N.  Purviance,  of  Butler, 

Major  —  W.  S.  Mellinger,  of  Washington. 

Adjutant  —  J.  M.  Kinkead. 

Quartermaster  —  M.  K.  Moorhead. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant  —  L.  Sahl,  Jr. 

Sergeant-Major  —  Alex.  P.  Callow. 

Surgeons  —  Drs.  James  Robinson,  Geo.  S.  Foster. 

Chaplain  —  Rev.  A.  M.  Stewart. 

Co.  A  - —  Washington  Infantry,  Capt.  David  B.  Morris. 

Co.  B  —  Union  Cadets,  Capt.  John  W.  Patterson. 

Co.  C  —  Negley  Cadets,  Capt.  Joseph  Browne. 

Co.  D  —  Washington  Infantry,  Capt.  William  Mays. 

Co.  E  —  Fort  Pitt  Guards,  Capt.  William  A.  Charlton.* 

Co.  F  — Rowley  Rifles,  Capt.  John  D.  M'Farland. 

Co.  G  —  Taylor  Guards,t  Capt.  John  H.  Filler. 

Co.  H  —  Butler  Blues,:}:  Capt.  Alex.  Gillespie. 

Co.  J  —  Shields  Guards,  Capt.  William  C.  Gallagher. 

Co.  K  —  Duquesne  Greys,  Capt.  John  Poland. 


A  number  of  the  companies  which  had  already  been  sent 
eastward  were  collected  at  Camp  Slifer,  Chambersburg, 
Franklin  county,  and  others  forwaided  directly  to  Wash- 
ington City.  Those  who  reached  Washington  were  organ- 
ized into  the 


*  Resigned  at  York,  succeeded  by  1st  Lieut.  Hamlet  Lowe,    f  Bedford  county. 
X  Butler  county. 

[  425  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Fifth  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.* 

Colonel  — R.  P.  M'Dowell,  Allegheny  City. 

Lieut.-Colonel  —  B.  Christ. 

Major — R.  B.  Petriken. 

Adjutant  —  R.  C.  Parker. 

Co.  A  —  State  Guards,  Capt.  G.  W.  Dawson. 

Co.  B  —  Turner  Rifles,  Capt.  H.  Amlung. 

Co.  K  —  United  States  Zouaves,  Capt.  George  Segrist. 

In  Camp  Slifer,  from  the  troops  sent  forward  from 
Allegheny  and  Berks  counties,  was  organized  the 

Seventh  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers. 

Colonel  —  William  H.  Irwin. 
Lieut.-Colonel  —  0.  H.  Rippey,  of  Allegheny. 
Major  —  Frank  Robinson,  of  Allegheny. 
Co.  A  —  Scott  Legion,  Capt.  Maurice  Wallace. 
Co.  B  —  Allegheny  Rifles,  Capt.  Casper  Gang. 
Co.  E  —  Allegheny  Light  Guards,  Capt.  H.  K.  Tyler. 
Co.  F  —  Pennsylvania  Zouaves,  Capt.  Joseph  Gerard. 
Co.  K  —  Pittsburgh  Invincibles,  Capt.  William  H.  Tro- 
villo. 

The  Negley  Zouaves,  Capt.  0.  M.  Irvine,  were  assigned  to 
the  Third  Regiment,  of  which  Capt.  Irvine  was  chosen 
Major ;  First  Lieut.  Lawson  succeeding  to  the  Captaincy. 

The  Alliquippa  Guards,  Capt.  Snider,  were  attached  to 
the  Fourteenth  Regiment,  Col.  John  W.  Johnston. 

While  these  companies  were  recruiting,  the  community 
was  in  a  constant  whirl  of  excitement.  Public  buildings, 
stores,  and  even  private  houses  were  profusely  decorated 
with  flags  of  all  sizes  and  qualities.  Private  subscriptions 
for  the  benefit  of  individuals  and  companies  were  raised 
liberally  —  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  thousands  of 
dollars.  Revolvers,  swords,  bowie  knives,  sashes,  and 
other  weapons  and  military  decorations  were  presented  by 

*  Seven  companies  were  from  Eastern  counties. 

[  426  ] 


EECORDS   OF   FOUR   WARS 

hundreds,  individuals,  companies,  and  corporations  vieing 
with  each  other  in  liberality.  By  the  efforts  of  a  few 
individuals,  in  some  instances,  whole  companies  were  uni- 
formed; but  we  regret  to  say  the  materials  and  make,  in 
some  cases,  soon  proved  to  be  of  the  shabbiest  character. 
Thus  several  companies  of  the  three  months  volunteers 
were  twice  supplied  with  clothing  within  a  few  weeks ;  once 
before  leaving  home,  and  again  by  the  State,  with 
"  shoddy  "  suits,  and  both  of  such  miserable  materials  as 
to  fall  to  pieces  before  the  campaign  had  fairly  commenced, 
causing  much  needless  suffering  among  the  raw  recruits. 

During  this  period  of  excitement  the  ladies  took  their  full 
share  of  labor,  sewing  gratuitously  for  the  soldiers,  making 
lint  and  hospital  supplies,  and  providing  such  delicacies  as 
their  means  permitted.  Hundreds  of  havelocks  were  made, 
but  the  discovery  that  the  white  colored  stuff  of  which  they 
were  made  had  an  injurious  effect  on  the  eyes  of  the  rear 
rank  of  men  put  a  sudden  stop  to  the  manufacture.  Private 
subscriptions  were  raised  to  provide  means  both  for  the 
outfitting  of  the  volunteers  and  for  the  defense  of  the  city. 
Messrs.  Knapp,  Rudd  &  Co.,  of  the  Fort  Pitt  works,  gener- 
ously tendering  the  heavy  ordnance  for  the  purpose. 

Depaktuee  of  Allegheny  County  Troops. 

On  the  twenty-four  of  April  —  eleven  days  after  the 
President  called  for  75,000  men  —  the  last  detachment 
(excepting  two  companies)  of  the  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth 
Regiments  left  for  Harrisburg.  At  an  early  hour  in  the 
day  the  troops  mustered  and  repaired  to  the  East  Common, 
Allegheny,  where  a  grand  review  had  been  announced  to 
come  off.  A  slight  rain  had  been  falling,  which  increased 
to  a  heavy  shower  as  the  review  was  about  commencing, 
and  continued  without  intermission,  interfering  greatly 
with  the  Commanding  General's  arrangement  for  a  grand 
demonstration.  The  review  did  not  come  off,  the  soldiers 
instead  plodding  their  way,  through  the  muddy  streets  and 
torrents  of  rain,  to  the  railroad  depot,  which  they  reached 
in  dilapidated  plight,  the  column  marching  through  West- 
ern avenue,  Ohio  and  Federal  streets  to  the  river,  across 

[  427  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

the  Suspension  bridge,  up  St.  Clair  and  Fifth  streets  to 
Smithfield,  thence  to  Sixth  and  down  to  Liberty,  where 
three  trains,  consisting  of  thirty-three  cars,  were  in  waiting 
to  transport  them  to  the  State  Capital.  On  the  route  a 
beautiful  silk  flag  was  presented  to  the  Twelfth  Regiment 
by  the  ladies  of  Allegheny,  and  received  by  Capt.  R.  Biddle 
Roberts,  of  the  U.  S.  Zouaves  Cadets.  This  demonstration 
took  place  at  the  house  of  Wm.  Bagaley,  Esq.,  on  Western 
avenue. 

Before  the  troops  reached  the  trains,  the  arrangements 
for  supplying  a  comfortable  lunch  were  perfected.  A  day's 
rations  of  bread  and  meat  had  been  placed  on  each  man's 
seat,  and  his  tin  cup  filled  with  excellent  coffee,  most  gladly 
welcomed  by  the  soldiers  after  their  trudge  through  mud 
and  rain.  In  Kier's  warehouse,  near  the  depot,  a  table  was 
bountifully  supplied,  and  but  a  few  failed  "  to  pay  their 
respects  "  to  it.  Credit  for  this  timely  supply  of  comfort 
for  the  inner  man,  was  due  mainly  to  the  citizens,  who  sub- 
sequently organized  the  Subsistence  Committee. 

About  twelve  o'clock,  m.,  the  first  (and  largest)  train 
moved  off  amid  the  most  enthusiastic  demonstrations,  wav- 
ing of  handkerchiefs  from  the  windows  and  housetops,  and 
deafening  cheers  from  the  spectators,  all  cheerfully  re- 
sponded to  by  the  men  in  the  cars.  At  least  ten  thousand 
people  had  collected  to  wave  farewell  to  the  ' '  gallant  three 
monthsers."  The  smaller  trains  followed  the  first  at  brief 
intervals,  and  the  crowd  was  not  cleared  off  until  long  after 
the  last  car  was  out  of  sight. 

The  first  train  arrived  at  Huntington  at  half-past  six 
p.  M.,  and  simultaneous  with  its  arrival  the  soldiers  were 
besieged  by  citizens  bearing  baskets  of  boiled  eggs,  sand- 
wiches, crackers,  cheese,  hot  coffee,  etc.  The  second  and 
third  trains  stopped  at  Altoona,  and  the  men  there  fed  at 
the  expense  of  the  government. 

The  trains  arrived  at  Harrisburg  between  one  and  two 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-fifth,  and  the  men  were 
quartered  in  churches  and  in  the  capitol.  On  the  afternoon 
of  the  same  day  the  regiments  were  mustered  into  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  on  the  square,  fronting  the 
State  Capitol,  on  each  side  of  which  the  Twelfth  and  Thir- 

[  428  ] 


RECORDS    OF   FOUR   WARS 

teenth  Regiments  were  formed  in  line.  After  the  cere- 
mony, Gov.  Curtin  passed  in  review. 

Col.  Campbell's  Regiment,  the  Twelfth,  left  the  same 
evening  for  ' '  Camp  Scott, ' '  at  York,  and  Col.  Rowle}  's  left 
on  the  following  day  for  the  same  destination. 

At  Camp  Scott, 

Of  which  Brig.-Gen.  Wynkoop  was  in  command,  were  the 
First,  Second,  Third,  Twelfth,  Thirteenth  and  Sixteenth 
Regiments,  numbering  in  all  about  5,000  men.  (Beside  the 
Allegheny  county  companies  in  the  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth, 
another  company,  the  Negley  Zouaves,  were  in  the  Third.) 
The  men  suffered  much  for  the  want  of  sufficient  clothing, 
which  was  not  furnished  for  some  time  after  their  arrival 
at  York. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  April,  Gen,  Negley  issued  his  first 
General  Order,  assuming  command  of  the  Twelfth  and 
Thirteenth  Regiments,  Capt.  Leasure,  of  Lawrence  county, 
acting  as  Adjutant-General. 

Maj.-Gen.  Keim,  with  his  aid,  Col.  Schaffer,  of  Lancaster, 
arrived  at  York  on  May  sixth,  and  assumed  control  of 
affairs.  Two  days  after,  Capt.  Ekin,  quartermaster  of  the 
Twelfth,  left  Philadelphia,  with  requisitions  for  clothing 
and  accoutrements  for  all  the  troops  in  Camp  Scott.  He 
returned  on  the  twelfth,  having  been  successful  in  his  mis- 
sion. 

At  this  time,  the  bridges  on  the  Northern  Central  Rail- 
road (destroyed  by  the  Rebels),  had  been  rebuilt,  and  trains 
began  running  regularly  from  Harrisburg  to  Baltimore,  a 
special  train  going  through  on  the  ninth. 

Gen.  Negley,  by  direction  of  Maj.-Gen.  Keim,  had  added 
to  his  brigade  (the  Fourth),  the  Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth 
Regiments,  in  camp  at  Lancaster.  The  Alliquippa  Guards, 
Capt.  Snyder,  of  McKeesport,  were  Company  K,  in  the 
Fourteenth. 

The  subject  of  re-enlisting  for  three  years  of  the  war  was 
now  agitated,  and  excited  considerable  discussion.  The 
question  was  not  put  to  the  men,  and  the  reports  that  they 
refused  to  re-enlist  are  false.     Being  half  a  month  in  the 

[  429  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

service  without  equipments,  when  other  regiments  subse- 
quently organized  were  already  in  the  field,  abundantly  sup- 
plied with  everything,  the  men  of  the  Twelfth  and  Thir- 
teenth were  in  no  amiable  mood.  On  the  third  of  May,  Gov. 
Curtin  was  advised  that  there  were  three  very  fine  regi- 
ments in  Philadelphia  ready  to  go  into  service,  and  was 
urged  to  accept  them.  They  were  accepted  and  at  once 
equipped  and  sent  off.  When  Capt.  Ekin  visited  Philadel- 
phia, he  was  informed  that  the  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth 
Regiments  were  in  excess,  and  that  unless  they  enlisted  for 
three  years  they  would  be  sent  home.  The  acceptance  of 
the  Philadelphia  regiments  had  more  than  filled  the  State's 
quota  of  three  months'  men,  and  hence  the  Twelfth  and 
Thirteenth,  although  fully  organized  in  less  than  two  weeks 
after  the  call  for  troops,  were  to  be  crowded  out.  But, 
through  the  active  exertions  of  one  of  our  Representatives 
in  Congress,  Hon.  J.  K.  Moorhead,  the  Secretary  of  War 
set  all  things  straight.  Who  was  to  blame  for  this  trouble, 
we  cannot  say,  but  it  seems,  through  somebody's  inad- 
vertence or  neglect,  that  the  War  Department  had  not  been 
advised  of  the  organization  of  the  Allegheny  county  regi- 
ments. 

On  the  tenth  of  May  (Sunday),  Gov.  Curtin,  with  his 
Aide,  Col.  R.  Biddle  Roberts,  reviewed  the  troops  at  York. 
Brig.-Gens.  Negley  and  Wynkoop  appeared  with  their 
brigades. 

The  first  instalment  of  overcoats  and  accoutrements 
reached  York  on  the  nineteenth,  another  on  the  following 
day,  and  from  day  to  day  until  all  the  troops  in  Camp 
Scott  were  fully  clothed,  equipped  and  furnished  with  camp 
equipage.  The  inferiority  and  absolute  rottenness  of  the 
clothing  excited  much  comment  and  not  a  little  indignation. 

About  this  time  Gen.  Negley  left  for  Lancaster,  to  see 
after  the  interests  of  the  Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth  Regi- 
ments. His  separation  from  the  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth 
Regiments,  it  was  at  first  supposed,  would  be  but  temporary, 
but  turned  out  that  they  were  taken  out  of  his  command 
entirely,  as  he  exercised  no  control  over  them  from  the  time 
of  his  leaving  York,  and  during  the  remainder  of  the  cam- 
paign he  had  but  one  company  from  Allegheny  county  under 

[  430  ] 


RECORDS   OF   FOUR   WARS 

his  command  —  the  Alliquippa  Guards.  This  was  much 
against  his  wishes,  as  well  as  against  the  desire,  we  believe, 
of  a  majority  of  the  Allegheny  volunteers. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  —  having  remained  at  Camp  Scott 
exactly  one  month  —  the  Twelfth  Regiment  received  march- 
ing orders  and  was  stationed  along  the  Northern  Central 
Railroad,  guarding  it  from  the  destructive  intentions  of  the 
Rebels.  The  regiment  remained  there  until  the  expiration 
of  their  term  of  service. 

On  the  third  of  June,  the  Thirteenth  received  marchingi 
orders,  and  on  the  following  day  left  Camp  Scott  for  Cham- 
bersburg,  at  which  place  it  arrived  on  the  morning  of  the 
seventh,  and  went  into  ''  Cantonment  Rowley,"  west  of  the 
town,  in  the  Fair  Grounds,  where  it  remained  a  few  days, 
removing  thence,  on  the  twelfth,  four  miles  south,  to 
*'  Camp  Brady."  Here  the  regiment  was  placed  in  the 
brigade  of  Col.  Dixon  S.  Miles,  U.  S.  A.,  composed  of  the 
Ninth  and  Sixteenth  P.  V.,  and  detachments  of  the  Second 
and  Third  Infantry  (Regulars).  The  fifteenth  found  the 
regiment  at ''  Camp  Riley,"  in  Maryland,  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  the  Potomac,  and  on  the  following  day  it  was  at 
*'  Camp  Hitchcock,"  in  Berkeley  county,  Va.,  two  miles 
south  of  the  Potomac,  which  river  it  crossed,  with  Gen.  Pat- 
terson's army,  at  Williamsport. 

Before  daylight  on  the  seventeenth,  the  regiment,  with 
the  brigade  to  which  it  was  attached,  retreated  across  the 
Potomac  to  Williamsport,  and  took  up  quarters  at  "  Camp 
Miles,"  adjoining  the  town.  Here  Col.  Miles  and  his  regu- 
lars were  detached  and  left  for  Washington  City.  The 
regiment  remained  at  this  point,  spending  the  time  most 
agreeably,  until  the  fourth  of  July. 

At  the  Ledger  office,  in  Williamsport,  some  of  the  Thir- 
teenth boys  printed  a  newspaper,  entitled,  The  Pennsyl- 
vania Thirteenth,  dated  "  Camp  Miles,  July  fourth,  1861." 

M.  Swartzwelder,  Esq.,  having  paid  the  camp  a  visit, 
witnessed  the  spectacle  of  a  company  parading  in  drawers, 
a  supply  of  which  they  had  just  received.  He  was  con- 
vinced, after  examining  a  few  of  the  pantaloons  worn  by  the 
soldiers,  that  it  was  not  the  warmth  of  the  weather  that 
induced  them  (the  men)  to  come  out  in  clean  drawers  in  the 

[  431  ] 


THE   HISTOEY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

presence  of  spectators,  rather  than  in  pants  which  would 
not  cover  their  nakedness. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  feeling  concerning  the  ''  shoddy  " 
clothing,  the  ' '  local  ' '  of  the  ' '  Thirteen  ' '  thus  dilated : 

''  We  advertise  for  sale  a  choice  lot  of  rags  (material 
unknown),  formerly  put  together  as  soldiers'  clothing.  If 
Mr.  Neil,  of  Philadelphia,  wishes  to  assist  in  a  speculation, 
he  will  find  his  services  appreciated  by  applying  to  the 
Thirteenth  Regiment. ' ' 

On  the  day  of  the  publication  of  the  paper,  and  while 
Sergt.-Maj.  Callow  was  working  the  press,  without  positive 
orders,  the  Thirteenth  crossed  the  Potomac  the  third  time. 
Being  short  of  rations,  and  directed  not  to  move  until  his 
commissary  department  had  been  replenished,  Col.  Rowley 
formed  the  regiment  in  line  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and 
put  the  question  to  the  men  whether  they  would  be  content 
to  live  for  five  days  on  three  days'  rations.  An  affirmative 
reply  was  given,  and  five  minutes  later  the  regiment  filed 
into  the  Potomac,  while  Doubleday's  guns  were  belching 
forth  salutes  in  honor  of  the  day.  Arrived  in  Martinsburg, 
on  the  same  day  (the  second  after  the  fight  at  Falling 
Waters),  and  remained  there  until  the  fifteenth,  when  Pat- 
terson's army  moved  to  Bunker  Hill,  twelve  miles  distant 
from  Winchester.  Here  it  rested  in  quietude,  barring  the 
nightly  alarms  (caused  by  timorous  picket  guards),  until 
the  eighteenth,  when  the  army  moved  not  to  Winchester, 
as  was  generally  expected,  but  to  Charleston,  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Harper's  Ferry.  Remaining  at  Charleston  for  a 
few  days,  the  line  of  march  was  taken  up  for  the  Ferry, 
where  the  Potomac  was  crossed  a  fourth  time.  Encamping 
for  a  night  opposite  Maryland  Heights,  the  regiment  headed 
for  Hagerstown,  marching  some  twenty-two  miles  in  nine 
hours.  The  men  knew  they  were  going  home,  their  term  of 
service  having  expired.  At  Hagerstown  they  took  the  cars 
for  Chambersburg,  thence  to  Harrisburg,  arriving  in  Pitts- 
burgh on  the  twenty-ninth  of  July.  They  were  regularly 
mustered  out  and  paid  off  a  few  days  afterward.  So  ends 
a  brief  history  of  the  bloodless  campaign  of  the  three 
months'  men. 

The  Thirteenth  Regiment,  together  with  the  companies 

[  432  ] 


RECORDS   OF   FOUR   WARS 

in  the  Third,  Seventh  and  Fourteenth,  saw  quite  as  much 
service  as  any  of  the  three  months'  troops,  attached  to  Gen. 
Patterson's  division,  while  the  Twelfth  Regiment  did  most 
efficient  service  in  performing  the  duty  to  which  it  was  as- 
signed. 

The  companies  in  the  Fifth  remained  about  Washington 
City,  and  were  among  the  very  first  troops  which  arrived 
to  defend  the  National  Capital. 

The  Seventh  Regiment  went  from  Harrisburg  to  Camp 
Slifer,  near  Chambersburg,  and  was  assigned  to  the  brigade 
of  Gen.  Williams.  It  crossed  the  Potomac  with  Patterson's 
army,  and  continued  with  it  the  marches  from  Williamsport 
to  Harper's  Ferry,  whence  the  three  months'  men  were  all 
sent  home. 

While  at  Charleston,  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  took  place, 
and  on  the  day  previous  the  Thirteenth  was  ordered  to  pro- 
ceed some  twenty  miles  in  the  direction  of  Winchester  to 
burn  some  bridges  and  tear  up  railroad  tracks,  and  had 
started  on  their  mission.  The  order,  however,  was  counter- 
manded, while  Capt.  M.  K.  Moorhead,  the  Quartermaster, 
was  endeavoring  to  procure  the  necessary  tools. 

The  Alliquippa  Guards,  of  McKeesport,  Capt.  Christian 
Snyder  and  Lieuts.  F.  Shaum  and  George  Haast  —  attached 
to  the  Fourteenth  Regiment,  Col.  J.  W.  Johnston,  of  West- 
moreland —  remained  at  Lancaster  for  a  considerable  time, 
going  thence  to  Chambersburg  and  participating  in  the  cam- 
paign through  the  Cumberland  Valley  and  Virginia.  On 
the  fourteenth  of  July,  at  Camp  Negley,  near  Hagerstown, 
Md.,  the  officers  of  the  Guards  resigned,  because,  as  they 
stated,  no  provisions  were  furnished  their  men.  The  resig- 
nations were  accepted  by  Gen.  Negley,  who  appointed  other 
officers,  viz. :  Capt.  Jas.  A.  Lowrie,  and  First  Lieut.  Alex- 
ander Forsyth,  both  of  whom  were  on  the  General's  staff, 
and  the  latter  afterwards  assigned  as  Quartermaster  of  the 
Fourteenth  Regiment,  with  James  H.  Snodgrass,  as  as^ 
sistant. 

The  Negley  Zouaves,  of  East  Liberty,  Capt.  Lawson,  also 
actively  participated  in  the  three  months'  campaign,  doing 
guard  duty  on  the  railroad  at  Hagerstown  for  a  short  time. 

28  [  433  ] 


THE    HISTOEY    OF    PITTSBURGH 

The  Committee  of  Public  Safety. 

Pending  the  organization  of  the  volunteer  militia  of  the 
count}'^,  active  exertions  werei  making  in  the  community  in 
the  furtherance  of  the  country's  cause.  One  of  the  most  im- 
portant bodies  ever  organized  in  the  country  was  set  on 
foot,  and  for  months  afterwards  exercised  a  controlling 
influence  in  all  military  affairs  in  the  county.  The  duties 
of  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety  were  multifarious  and 
laborious,  yet  they  were  attended  to  with  a  vigilance  and 
promptitude  that  will  forever  reflect  credit  on  the  members. 
On  the  fifteenth  of  April  an  immense  mass  meeting  was  held 
in  City  Hall.  Never  before  had  so  many  persons  gathered 
within  its  walls  —  never  had  the  same  unanimity  of  senti- 
ment been  displayed.  This  meeting  adopted  a  series  of 
resolutions  pertinent  to  the  crisis,  the  fourth  of  which  au- 
thorized the  appointment  of  a  Committee  of  One  Hundred, 
to  act  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  "  patriot  cause." 
This  committee,  which  was  announced  by  the  venerable 
chairman  of  the  meeting,  Judge  Wilkins,  on  the  seventeenth, 
was  composed  of  prominent  citizens  of  all  parties,  and  tem- 
porarily organized  by  electing  Thomas  Bakewell,  Esq.,  pres- 
ident; John  Birmingham,  W.  Bagaley,  Hon.  Thomas  M. 
Howe,  Wm.  F.  Johnston,  C.  Zug  and  G.  W.  Cass,  vice-presi- 
dents; and  T.  Steel,  C.  McKnight,  T.  J.  Bigham  and  T.  B. 
Hamilton,  secretaries. 

A  committee  appointed  on  permanent  organization,  at  a 
meeting  on  the  eighteenth,  reported  the  following  perma- 
nent officers:  Hon.  William  Wilkins,  president;  Hon. 
Thomas  M.  Howe,  Hon.  William  F.  Johnston,  William 
Bagaley,  James  P.  Barr,  John  Birmingham  and  George  W. 
Cass,  vice-presidents;  Messrs.  William  M.  Hersh,  John  W. 
Riddell,  George  H.  Thurston,  Wm.  Woods,  Jos.  R.  Hunter 
and  Thos.  D.  Hamilton,  secretaries,  and  Jas.  M'Auley, 
treasurer.  The  committee  also  reported  the  propriety  of 
creating  three  sub-committees,  viz.:  Finance,  Home  De- 
fense, and  Executive  Committees,  the  organization  of  which, 
for  obvious  reasons,  was  not  made  public.  The  committees 
at  once  entered  upon  their  duties  in  collecting  funds  and 
organizing  the  residents  of  the  county  into  companies  and 

[  434  ] 


RECORDS   OF   FOUR   WARS 

regimen cs  of  Home  Guards.  The  duties  of  the  Executive 
Committee  were  of  an  extremely  delicate  character.  At  the 
outbreaking  of  the  Rebellion,  there  were  in  every  community 
in  the  North  numbers  of  residents,  who  sympathized,  more 
or  less  openly,  with  the  Rebels,  and  continued  to  supply 
them,  for  some  time,  with  articles  contraband  of  war.  These 
articles  were  forwarded  by  railroad  and  express  to  points 
in  the  West,  from  which  they  could  readily  be  distributed  to 
the  South.  It  became  the  duty  of  the  committee  to  inter- 
cept these  contraband  shipments,  and  to  put  a  stop,  as 
quietly  as  possible,  to  the  public  expression  of  disloyal  sen- 
timents. For  some  weeks  their  labors  were  arduous,  but 
finally  resulted  in  a  complete  suppression  of  the  illegal 
traffic.  Hon.  Wm.  F.  Johnston,  Hon.  Thos.  Howe,  Hon. 
Wm.  Wilkins,  Hon.  John  E.  Parke,  George  W.  Cass,  George 
P.  Hamilton,  Thomas  S.  Blair,  James  H.  Sewell,  James 
Park,  Jr.,  James  M'Auley,  James  B.  Murray,  William  M. 
Lyon,  Thomas  Steel,  William  R.  Brown,  James  Hardman, 
J.  R.  M'Cune,  C.  W.  Batchelor,  Wm.  M.  Shinn,  William 
Phillips,  Thomas  Bakewell,  James  A.  Hutchinson,  H.  M'Cul- 
lough,  Reuben  Miller,  Jr.,  Edward  Gregg,  Samuel  Dilworth, 
William  J.  Morrison,  Isaac  Jones,  M,  Swartzwelder,  Wil- 
liam Coleman,  Dr.  George  M'Cook,  Sr.,  P.  C.  Shannon,  and 
Edward  H.  Stowe,  formed  this  committee,  of  which  Wil- 
liam F.  Johnston  was  elected  chairman,  and  Thomas  M. 
Howe,  vice-president,  Geo.  H.  Thurston,  secretary  of  the 
Committee  of  Public  Safety,  and  J.  A.  Hutchinson,  were 
appointed  secretaries.  Mr.  Thurston,  from  his  wide  ac- 
quaintance in  the  community  and  his  experience  in  business 
of  a  kindred  nature,  was  enabled  to  be  of  great  service  to 
the  committee  in  the  transaction  of  its  business. 

At  a  mass  meeting  of  citizens  held  some  time  after  the 
formation  of  the  committee,  another  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  confer  with  the  Executive  Committee,  being  sub- 
sequently consolidated  with  it.  It  was  composed  of  Messrs. 
B.  C.  Sawyer,  A.  C.  Alexander,  James  M.  Cooper,  Wm. 
Robinson,  Jr.,  Wm.  K.  Nimick,  John  Harper,  Robert  Ash- 
worth,  Francis  Sellers,  F.  R.  Brunot,  B.  F.  Jones,  T.  J. 
Bigham,  John  Myler,  Wm.  Semple,  Jas.  P.  Tanner,  Saml. 
Wickersham  and  James  French.     The  original  committee 

[  435  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

was  in  constant  session  for  several  weeks,  day  and  night. 
The  joint  committee  was  chiefly  engaged  with  business  rela- 
tive to  the  defense  of  the  city.  The  last  meeting  of  the 
committee  was  held  on  September  sixteenth,  1861,  there 
being  no  emergency  from  that  date  until  September,  1862, 
which  required  their  attention. 

The  Executive  Committee,  or  rather  the  Committee  on 
Munitions  of  War,  Messrs.  Jos.  Dilworth,  Geo.  M'Cook, 
E.  D.  Gazzam,  Jonas  R.  McClintock,  and  Robert  Finney, 
on  the  twenty-fifth  of  April  published  a  notice  to  shippers 
to  report  all  goods  supposed  to  be  contraband  to  the  com- 
mittee sitting  in  permanent  session.  The  Committee  on 
the  Transit  of  Contraband  Goods  —  Messrs.  George  Mc- 
Cook,  M.  D.,  Henry  Hays,  E.  D.  Gazzam,  Jonas  R.  McClin- 
tock, and  W.  E.  Fundenburg  —  on  the  twenty-eighth  passed 
the  following  resolutions: 

^'Resolved,  That  all  goods  arriving  at  Pittsburg,  and 
destined  for  Southern  States,  be  stopped  for  the  present, 
stored  and  insured. 

^'Resolved,  That  no  packages  whatever  shall  be  allowed 
to  go  forward  to  Southern  States  till  they  have  been  opened 
and  examined  by  the  Committee. 

'^Resolved,  That  one  or  more  packers  be  employed  to 
attend  to  the  opening  of  boxes  and  other  packages  and 
repacking  the  same." 

The  committee  still  exercised  a  supervision  over  ship- 
ments during  the  summer.  On  the  twenty-eighth  of 
August,  while  the  Collector  of  Customs  was  examining  an 
express  car  load  of  goods  and  munitions  of  war,  a  box  of 
"■  friction  tubes,"  used  in  firing  army  ordnance,  exploded. 
Mr.  James  Batchelor,  a  brother  of  Capt.  Chas.  W.  Batch- 
elor,  Collector  of  Customs,  who  was  standing  beside  the  car, 
had  his  leg  broken  by  a  splinter.  Wm.  McLaughlin,  ex- 
pressman; John  Maher,  stableman,  and  Michael  Regan, 
laborer,  were  at  work  in  the  car.  McLaughlin  was  fright- 
fully lacerated  about  the  face  and  stomach,  and  one  of  his 
eyes  badly  injured.  Maher  was  also  terribly  injured,  his 
right  side  being  lacerated,  his  left  knee  laid  open  to  the 
bone,  and  his  right  arm  and  hand  torn  and  mangled.  All 
fortunately  recovered.     The  cause  of  the  explosion  could 

[  436  ] 


RECORDS    OF   FOUR   WARS 

never  be  clearly  ascertained,  as  the  tubes  were  packed  with 
extreme  care. 

The  Home  Guaeds. 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  Committee  on  Home  Defense, 
preliminary  meetings  were  held  in  nearly  all  the  wards  of 
the  two  cities,  on  the  twentieth  of  April,  for  the  purpose  of 
organizing  a  militia  for  home  defense,  and  during  the  fort- 
night following  organizations  were  perfected  in  almost 
every  precinct  in  the  county.  Some  of  the  companies 
adopted  a  cheap  uniform,  others  merely  assumed  a  military 
cap,  while  a  large  number  sought  no  uniformity  of  dress 
or  equipment.  About  the  first  of  May  the  committee  were 
authorized  by  the  State  authorities  to  draw  from  the 
Arsenal  muskets  and  rifles  for  the  Home  Guards.  The 
arms  were  accordingly  furnished  by  Major  Symington,  and, 
together  with  a  large  number  purchased  by  the  committee, 
stored  in  City  Hall,  which  was  placed  under  a  strong  guard 
for  several  weeks.  Prior  to  the  departure  of  the  last 
detachments  of  volunteers  1,139  muskets  and  rifles  were 
also  distributed  among  them  by  the  committee.  As  the 
companies  of  Home  Guards  were  organized  they  were  re- 
ported to  the  committee,  inspected  and  sworn,  and  on  the 
third  of  May  the  distribution  of  arms  commenced,  com- 
panies of  riflemen  receiving  fifty  rifles,  and  infantry  com- 
panies seventy  muskets.  The  muskets  were  generally  old 
''  Harper's  Ferry  "  flint  locks,  but  answered  admirably  all 
the  purposes  of  drill.  The  rifles  were  of  the  old  pattern, 
without  bayonets,  but  in  other  respects  first-rate  arms. 
Forty-five  companies  were  inspected  on  the  first  day,  of 
which  twenty  were  supplied  with  arms.  In  the  course  of 
the  ensuing  fortnight  all  the  companies  organized  were 
armed  and  under  competent  oflficers,  and  being  actively 
drilled.  On  Friday,  May  eleventh,  the  last  company  —  the 
Allegheny  Grenadiers,  Capt.  Wray  —  were  supplied  with 
arms.  The  committee  then  reported  a  distribution  of  2,088 
muskets  and  882  rifles.  Five  thousand  five  hundred  men 
were  organized  into  Home  Guard  companies.  Before  dis- 
tributing the  arms  the  committee  required  bonds  from  the 
oflficers  of  the  several  companies.      The  organization,  as 

[  437  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

might  have  been  expected,  was  made  the  target  of  not  a 
little  idle  and  malicious  wit,  and  finally  succumbed  to 
ridicule  and  loss  of  novelty.  Nevertheless,  it  had  served  a 
good  purpose  in  thoroughly  arousing  the  military  spirit  of 
the  people,  and  its  beneficial  effects  became  apparent  in 
recruiting  under  the  subsequent  call  for  five  hundred  thou- 
sand men.  The  immense  body,  thus  enrolled  and  partially 
drilled,  made  but  one  exhibition  of  its  strength  —  in 
the  grand  parade  of  July  fourth.  It  had  in  the  meantime 
been  organized  into  regiments  and  brigades,  of  which  we 
have  the  following  record : 

Allegheny  County. 
Home  Guard  Organization. 

Major-General  —  William  Wilkins. 

Aids  —  John  M  'D.  Crossan,  John  M.  Tiernan,  Mansfield 
Brown. 

Inspector-General  —  Thos.  M.  Howe. 
Adjutant-General  —  Jonas  R.  M'Clintock. 
Quartermaster-General  —  C.  W.  Batchelor. 
Commissary-General  —  William  Bagaley. 

First  Brigade. 

Brigadier-General  —  William  F.  Johnston. 
Adjutant-General  —  Benair  C.  Sawyer,  Jr. 
Aid-de-Camp  —  Felix  R.  Brunot. 

First  Regiment  Rifles. 

Colonel  —  Samuel  M.  Wickersham. 

Lieut.-Colonel  —  T.  B.  Hambright. 

Major  — Jacob  Britton. 

Adjutant  —  J.  H.  Barber. 

Union  Cavalry  —  Capt.  Robt.  Patterson. 

Scott  Rifles  —  Capt.  Britton. 

Second  Ward  Rifles  —  Capt.  Mattern. 

First  Ward  Rifles  —  Capt.  Fitzsimmons. 

Union  Rifles,  S.  P.  —  Capt. . 


[  438  ] 


RECORDS    OF   FOUR   WARS 

Duquesne  Central  Guards  —  Capt.  J.  M.  Roberts. 
Park  Rifles  —  Capt.  C.  W.  Moore. 
Eighth  Ward  Rifles  —  Capt.  E.  S.  Wright. 
Columbia  Rifles  —  Capt.  T.  F.  Lehman. 

Fourth  Regiment. 

Colonel  —  Joseph  E.  M'Cabe. 
Lieut.-Colonel . 


Major  —  Andrew  Burtt. 

East  Birmingham  Guards  —  Capt.  Cunningham. 

Rich  Valley  H.  Guards  —  Capt.  Glenn. 

Union  Guards,  Union  Tp.  —  Capt.  Frew. 

South  Pittsburgh  Infantry  —  Capt.  Knap. 

Dilworth  Guards,  Mt.  Washington  —  Capt.  Harper, 

Ellsworth  Guards  —  Capt.  Duff. 

Lower  St.  Clair  Guards  —  Capt.  Musser. 

West  Pittsburgh  Guards  —  Capt.  Whipple. 

West  Liberty  Guards  —  Capt.  Espy. 

East  Birmingham  Rifles  —  Capt.  Dressel. 

Second  Regiment  Infantry. 

Colonel  —  F.  C.  Negley. 

Lieut.-Colonel  —  Wm.  Kopp. 

Major  —  J.  R.  Hunter. 

Arsenal  Rifles  —  Capt.  Langdon. 

Fifth  Ward  H.  Guards,  A  —  Lieut.-Com.  Wilson. 

Fifth  Ward  H.  Guards,  B  —  Capt.  Gangwisch. 

Fifth  Ward  H.  Guards,  C  —  Capt.  Felix. 

Jefferson  Guards  —  Capt.  Hamm. 

Second  Beigade. 

Brigadier-General  —  George  W.  Cass. 
Assistant  Adjutant-General  —  Robert  Finney. 

First  Regiment. 

Colonel  —  William  Phillips. 
Lieut.-Colonel  —  R.  W.  Jones. 
Major  —  J.  B.  Sweitzer. 

[  439  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Marion  Guards  —  Capt.  Sweitzer. 
Howe  Infantry  —  Capt.  Bailey. 
U.  S.  Zouave  Cadets  —  Capt.  De  Barenne. 
Koerner  Guards  —  Capt.  Holmes. 
Bagaley  Guards  —  Capt.  De  Zouche. 
Kensington  Guards  —  Capt.  M'Candless. 
Second  Ward  H.  Guards  —  Capt.  Appleton. 
Ricketson  Guards  —  Capt.  Bell. 

Second  Regiment  Rifles- 

Colonel  —  James  B.  Moore. 

Lieut.-Colonel  —  T.  B.  Hamilton. 

Major  —  F.  Hambright. 

Adjutant  — B.  F.  Pettitt. 

Keystone  Rifles  —  Capt.  Nimick. 

Seventh  Ward  H.  Guards  —  Capt.  Ward. 

Sharpsburg  Rifles  —  Capt.  F.  H.  Collier. 

First  Ward  (A)  Rifles  —  Capt.  Hambrigbt. 

Shannon  Rifles  —  Capt.  Little. 

Arsenal  Rifles  —  Lieut.-Com.  Pierson. 

Allegheny  Grenadiers  —  Capt.  M.  M  'Gonnigle. 

Steuben  Guards  —  Capt.  Lenhaeuser. 

Harper  Zouaves  —  Capt.  Fullwood. 

Fort  Pitt  Artillery  (five  guns)—  Capt.  Metcalf. 

Third  Regiment. 

Colonel  —  J.  M.  C.  Beringer. 
Lieut.-Colonel  —  James  J.  Larimer. 
Major  —  John  G.  Martin. 
East  Liberty  H.  Guards  —  Capt.  Gross. 
Glenwood  H.  Guards  —  Capt.  Cosgrave. 
Swissvale  H.  Guards  —  Capt.  Finney. 
Wilkinsburg  H.  Guards  —  Capt.  Semple. 
Braddock's  Field  Guard  — Capt.  Smith. 
Oakhill  Guards  —  Capt.  Baldwin. 
Oakland  Guards  —  Capt.  Brown. 
Versailles  Tp.  Guards  —  Capt.  Shaw. 
Penn  Tp.  H.  Guards  —  Capt.  Beringer. 

[  440  ] 


RECORDS    OF   FOUR   WARS 

Third  Brigade. 

Brigadier-General  —  John  Birmingham. 

Aids  —  C.  Zug,  James  P.  Barr. 

Assistant  Adjutant-General  —  J.  B.  Guthrie. 

Fifth  Regiment. 

Colonel  —  Charles  G.  Smith. 

Lieut.-Colonel  —  James  M.  Cooper. 

Major  —  J.  W.  F.  White. 

Leet  Guards  —  Capt.  Nevin. 

Allegheny  Greys  —  Capt.  Boisel. 

Anderson  Infantry  —  Capt.  Duval. 

Twin  City  Rangers  —  Capt.  George  Thompson. 

Cass  Defenders  —  Capt.  Bradley. 

Washington  Guards  —  Capt.  Steinbrenner. 

Ellsworth  Infantry  —  Capt.  Miller. 

Sewickley  Guards  —  Capt.  AVhite. 

M'Clure  Guards  —  Capt.  Smith. 

Sixth  Regiment. 

Colonel  —  Matthew  I.  Stewart. 

Lieut.-Colonel  —  A.  G.  M'Quade. 

Major  —  S.  K.  Rogers. 

Madison  Guards  —  Capt.  Stewart. 

Duquesne  Guards  —  Capt.  Jenkins. 

Duquesne  Cadets  —  Capt.  Williams. 

Shaler  Home  Guards  —  Capt.  Lloyd. 

Keystone  Home  Guards,  Indiana  Tp.  —  Capt.  Robinson. 

Duquesne  Home  Guards  —  Capt.  Suttler. 

Third  Ward  (Ally.)  Home  Guards  —  Capt.  Mohl. 

Allegheny  Zouave  Cadets  —  Capt.  William  Griswell. 

The  Reserve  Corps. 

In  the  excitement  which  followed  the  call  for  75,000 
militia,  a  sufficient  number  of  organizations  were  set  on 
foot  to  have  furnished  that  number  from  Pennsylvania 
alone.     Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  State  quota  was 

[  441  ] 


THE  HISTOEY  OF  PITTSBURGH 

filled  in  less  than  a  week,  these  organizations  —  to  the  num- 
ber of  over  forty  in  Allegheny  county  alone  —  still  held 
together,  though  in  many  instances  at  great  inconvenience 
to  the  men  and  cost  to  the  ofi&cers.  Strenuous  efforts  were 
made  to  induce  the  State  authorities  to  accept  these  com- 
panies, and  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  April  the  Governor 
decided  to  form  a  camp  at  Pittsburgh.  The  temporary 
control  of  the  camp  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  one  of  the 
sub-committees  of  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety.  The 
Fair  Grounds  were  selected  as  a  suitable  site,  and  Camp 
Wilkins  organized  with  Col.  P.  Jarrett,  of  Lock  Haven, 
Clinton  county.  Pa.,  as  Commandant,  Henry  A.  Weaver, 
Commissary,  and  Sam'l  P.  M'Kelvy,  Quartermaster. 
Twenty-six  companies  were  immediately  reported  as  ready 
to  go  into  camp,  of  which  we  have  the  following  list : 

Government  Guards,*  Capt.  Robt.  Anderson;  Fayette 
Guards,*  Uniontown,  Capt.  S.  D.  Oliphant;  Chartiers  Val- 
ley Guards,*  Capt.  Charles  Barnes;  Pittsburgh  Rifles,* 
Capt.  L.  W.  Smith;  Pennsylvania  Rover  Guards,  Capt. 
Barr;  Duncan  Guards,*  Capt.  John  Duncan;  City  Guards, 
B,*  Capt.  C.  F.  Jackson;  Lafayette  Blues,  Capt.  Wilkinson; 
Highland  Guards,  Capt.  Robert  Chester ;  Anderson  Guards, 
Capt.  W.  A.  Anderson;  Plumer  Guards,f  Capt.  A.  Hay; 
Denny  Guards,  Capt.  H.  Mackrell;  Minute  Riflemen,f  Pine 
Township,  Capt.  Thos.  Gibson;  Allegheny  Rangers,*  Capt. 
H.  S.  Fleming ;  Independent  Rangers,  Capt.  J.  T.  McCombs ; 
Anderson  Cadets,*  Capt.  George  S.  Hays;  Pennsylvania 
Life  Guards,  Capt.  Williamson;  Jefferson  Riflemen,*  Capt. 
R.  E.  Johnston;  Pittsburgh  Artillery,  Capt.  D.  C.  Kem- 
merer;  National  Guards,  B,  Capt.  J.  Meyers;  Pennsyl- 
vania Life  Guards,  Capt.  G.  W.  Leonard;  Montgomery 
Guards,  Capt.  M.  Brennan;  Anderson  Infantry,f  Capt. 
Alexander  Scott ;  National  Guards,  A,  Capt.  H.  Hultz ;  Irish 
Volunteers,  Capt.  John  Murphy;  Federal  Guards,:}:  Capt. 
J.  C.  Hull. 

Great  disappointment  was  created  by  the  announcement, 
on  Tuesday,  that  but  six  Allegheny  county  companies  could 

*  Subsequently  admitted. 

•j-  Went  into  service  in  Virgjinia. 

$  Afterward  in  the  63d  P.  V. 

[    442    ] 


RECORDS    OF    FOUR   WARS 

be  accepted  and  provided  for  in  Camp  Wilkins.  An  im- 
promptu meeting  of  Captains  was  held  in  the  Girard  House, 
at  which  forty-five  companies  were  represented.  A  meet- 
ing was  held  on  the  following  day,  at  which  a  resolution  to 
disband  was  discussed  and  rejected,  and  a  regimental 
organization  determined  on.  On  Thursday  twenty-eight 
companies,  including  a  number  not  previously  mentioned, 
were  represented,  and,  after  some  discussion,  two  regiments 
were  formed. 

First  Regiment :  Colonel,  Alexander  Hay ;  Lieut.-Colonel, 
Robt.  Chester;  Major,  Abijah  Ferguson. 

Second  Regiment:  Colonel,  H.  Hultz;  Lieut.-Colonel, 
John  S.  McCombs ;  Major,  James  Barr. 

The  Spang  Infantry,  Capt.  Scanlon;  Union  Artillery, 
Capt.  Large ;  Turtle  Creek  Guards,  Capt.  Kunkle ;  McKees- 
port  Union  Guards,  Capt.  Snodgrass,  and  Monongahela 
Blues,  Capt.  Blackburn,  were  among  the  new  companies 
represented. 

On  Friday  four  additional  companies,  making  ten  from 
Allegheny  county,  were  accepted  and  ordered  into  camp. 
They  were  the  Anderson  Guards,  Chartiers  Valley  Guards, 
Duncan  Guards,  Allegheny  Rangers,  Iron  City  Guards, 
Garibaldi  Guards,  Anderson  Cadets,  City  Guards,  B,  Pitts- 
burgh Rifles,  and  McKeesport  Union  Guards.| 

As  there  had  been  no  provision  made  as  yet  for  a  reserve 
corps  in  the  State,  the  men  were  entitled,  for  the  time  being, 
to  nothing  but  their  rations.  In  the  meantime  the  Erie 
Regiment,  three  months'  volunteers,  under  Col.  McLean, 
took  up  quarters  in  Camp  Wilkins,  of  which  Col.  McLean 
took  command.  A  special  meeting  of  the  Legislature,  in 
May,  authorized  the  formation  of  a  Reserve  Corps,  and 
provided  for  its  maintenance  until  called  into  the  service  of 
the  United  States.  Troops  were  ordered  into  camp  from 
all  of  the  western  counties  of  the  State  until  over  three 
thousand  men  thronged  its  confined  limits.  It  was  soon 
discovered  that  the  location  was  poorly  adapted  for  a 
camp,  and  on  May  twenty-fifth  Gen.  McCall  was  sent  by 
the  Governor,  with  a  military  commission,  to  examine  the 


II  Captain  R.  E.  Johnston  subsequently  secured,  by  personal  application,  the 
passage  of  an  act  of  Legislature  for  the  admission  of  his  company. 

[  443  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

surrounding  country  and  select  another  site.  Rapid  trips 
were  made  to  Sewickley,  on  the  P.,  F.  W.  and  C.  Railroad, 
and  Braddock's  Fields,  on  the  Pennsylvania  Central,  and 
on  the  twenty-seventh  the  party,  composed  of  Gen.  McCall, 
Capt.  Sheets,  U.  S.  A.,  his  Aid;  Quartermasters  McKelvy 
and  Benson,  Commissary  Weaver,  Capts.  Duncan,  Dick, 
Barnes,  and  others,  and  Messrs.  James  Henderson,  James 
Gibson,  and  Jos,  S.  Lare,  proceeded  to  Hulton,  on  the 
Allegheny  Valley  Railroad,  and  examined  the  ground  thor- 
oughly, finally  selecting  it  as  a  site  for  the  new  camp,  which 
was  named  Camp  Wright,  in  honor  of  Hon.  John  A.  Wright, 
Aid  to  the  Governor.  The  camp  was  laid  out  on  the  twenty- 
eighth  on  a  broad  field  in  the  rear  of  the  station  buildings 
at  Hulton,  the  ground  sloping  up  to  a  steep  eminence,  about 
three  hundred  yards  from  the  river.  The  parade  ground 
was  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  below,  and  fronted  directly 
on  the  river.  On  the  thirtieth  the  first  company  —  the 
Warren  Guards,  afterwards  known  as  the  * '  Wild  Cats  ' '  — 
took  up  its  quarters  in  Camp  Wright,  which  was  soon  after 
filled,  by  removals  from  Camp  Wilkins  and  troops  from 
other  counties,  by  over  four  thousand  men. 

In  Camp  Weight. 

Toward  the  close  of  June  forty  companies  were  collected, 
including  the  Erie  Regiment,  while  ten  companies  remained 
at  Camp  Wilkins.  These  companies  had  nearly  all  re- 
cruited under  the  call  for  three  months'  men,  but  previous 
to  their  muster  into  United  States  service  were  required 
to  enlist  for  three  years.  In  some  companies  a  great  deal 
of  dissatisfaction  was  occasioned  by  the  change,  but  all 
were  finally  sworn  into  service  without  the  necessity  of  dis- 
banding. In  the  beginning  of  July  the  State  officers  ap- 
peared in  camp  and  organized  the  companies  into  four 
regiments,  of  which  the  Tenth  and  Eleventh  contained  no 
Allegheny  county  companies : 

Eighth  Regiment,  P.  V.  C. 

Colonel  —  George  S.  Hays. 
Lieut.-Colonel  —  S.  D.  Oliphant. 

[  444  ] 


RECORDS    OF   FOUR   WARS 

Major  —  John  W.  Duncan. 
Adjutant  —  H.  W.  Patterson. 
Sergeant-Major  —  Alfred  T.  Clark,  Jr. 
Quartermaster  —  Joseph  Fricker.* 
Co.  A  —  Armstrong  Rifles,  Capt.  L.  S.  Cantwell. 
Co.  B  —  Jefferson  Rifles,  Capt.  R.  E.  Johnston. 
Co.  C  —  Anderson  Cadets,  Capt.  George  S.  Gallope. 
Co.  D  —  Brownsville  Greys,  Capt.  C.  L.  Conner. 

Co.  E ,  Capt.  E.  P.  Shoenberger. 

Co.  F  —  Hopewell  Rifles,  Capt.  J.  Eichelberger. 

Co.  G ,  Capt.  J.  B.  Gardner. 

Co.  H  —  Clarion  Union  Guards,  Capt.  Wm.  Lemon. 
Co.  I  —  Green  County  Rangers,  Capt.  S.  M.  Baily. 
Co.  K  —  Hopkins  Infantry,  Capt.  A.  Wishart. 


Ninth  Regiment,  P.  V.  C. 

Colonel  —  C.  F.  Jackson. 

Lieut.-Colonel  —  Robert  Anderson. 

Major  —  J.  M'K.  Snodgrass. 

Adjutant  —  T.  Brent  Swearingen. 

Co.  A  —  City  Rifles,  Capt.  L.  W.  Smith. 

Co.  B  —  Garibaldi  Guards,  Capt.  F.  Hardtmeyer. 

Co.  C  —  Iron  City  Guards,  Capt.  James  Shannon, 

Co.  D  —  Government  Guards,  Capt.  Robert  Galway. 

Co,  E  —  Chartiers  Valley  Guards,  Capt.  Charles  Barnes. 

Co.  F  —  Meadville  Volunteers,  Capt.  S.  B.  Dick. 

Co.  G  —  City  Guard,  B,  Capt,  Brookbank. 

Co.  H  —  New  Brighton  Rifles,  Capt.  Cuthbertson. 

Co.  I  —  M  'Keesport  Union  Guards,  Capt.  Wm.  Lynch. 

Co.  K  —  Allegheny  Rangers,  Capt.  H,  S.  Fleming. 


Tenth  Regiment,  P.  V.  C. 

Colonel  —  John  S.  M'Calmont. 
Lieut.-Colonel  —  G.  T,  Kirk. 
Major  —  H.  R.  Allen. 

*  Afterward  detached  on  signal  service. 

[  445  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Eleventh  Regiment,  P.  V.  C. 

Colonel  —  T.  R.  Gallaher. 
Lieut.-Colonel  —  J.  R.  Porter. 
Major  —  S.  M.  Jackson. 

On  July  seventeenth  the  reserve  regiments  were  supplied 
with  arms  —  altered  muskets  —  and  uniforms,  and  on  the 
twenty-third  left  for  Washington.  The  entire  reserve 
corps  was  formed  into  a  division  under  Gen,  M'Call,  and 
during  the  winter  quartered  at  Camp  Pierpont,  a  portion 
of  the  division  serving  with  credit  in  the  battle  of  Draines- 
ville.  In  March  they  were  placed  under  command  of  Gen. 
M'Dowell,  in  his  movement  on  Fredericksburg,  and  in 
June  were  transferred  to  the  Peninsula  in  time  to  partici- 
pate in  the  Seven  Days'  Battles.  They  returned  under 
M'Clellan  in  time  for  the  battles  under  Gen.  Pope  before 
Washington,  and  were  again  in  service  in  Maryland  in  the 
battles  of  South  Mountain  and  Antietam.  In  every  action 
they  maintained  their  high  reputation,  and  earned  their 
veteran  stamp  at  a  terrible  cost  of  life.  Since  entering  the 
service  in  July,  1861,  the  reserves  had  been  reduced  from 
fifteen  thousand  to  about  six  or  seven  thousand  men.  Gov. 
Curtin  had  recently  submitted  a  proposition  to  the  Presi- 
dent to  bring  home  these,  and  other  veteran  regiments,  by 
detachments,  for  the  purpose  of  recruiting  their  enfeebled 
ranks  to  their  former  standard. 

The  Erie  Regiment, 

One  of  the  finest  bodies  of  men  raised  during  the  war, 
was  enlisted  in  Erie  and  adjoining  counties  under  the  first 
call  for  75,000  men.  As  the  companies  were  enrolled  in 
widely  separated  localities,  some  time  elapsed  before  the 
regiment  was  organized,  and  it  was  then  too  late  for  accept- 
ance in  the  State's  quota  of  sixteen  regiments.  Several  of 
the  companies  were  encamped  for  some  time  in  Erie  county, 
but  on  the  organization  of  the  regiment,  so  great  was  the 
reluctance  of  the  State  authorities  to  order  its  disbanding, 
that  it  was  finally  determined  to  retain  it  for  State  service, 

[  446  ] 


RECORDS   OF   FOUR   WARS 

and  it  was  accordingly  ordered  into  camp  at  Pittsburgh. 
The  regiment  entered  Camp  Wilkins  on  May  second,  with 
the  following  organization : 

Colonel  —  John  W.  M'Lean.* 
Lieut.-Colonel  —  Benjamin  Grant. 
Major  —  M.  Schlandecker. 
Adjutant  —  Strong  Vincent. 
Surgeon  —  J.  L.  Stewart. 
Commissary  —  J.  V.  Derrickson. 
Quartermaster  —  S.  B,  Benson. 
Co.  A  —  Capt.  T.  M.  Austin. 
Co.  B  —  Capt.  H.  L.  Brown. 
Co.  C  —  Capt.  John  Graham. 
Co.  D  —  Capt.  J.  L.  Dunn. 
Co.  E  —  Capt.  J.  A.  Austin. 
Co.  F  —  Capt.  C.  B.  Morgan. 
Co.  G  —  Capt.  D.  W.  Hutchinson. 
Co.  H  —  Capt.  J.  Landrath. 
Co.  I  —  Capt.  Frank  Wagner. 
Co.  K  —  Capt.  J.  Kirkpatrick. 

Col.  M  'Lean  took  command  of  the  camp,  and  of  the  com- 
panies subsequently  ordered  into  it,  until  the  transfer  of 
the  main  body  of  the  troops  to  Camp  Wright,  when  Col. 
George  S.  Hays  assumed  command  of  Camp  Wilkins.  The 
Erie  Regiment  was  mainly  uniformed,  the  liberality  of  the 
citizens  of  Erie  supplying  the  means.  The  uniform  was  a 
showy  and  handsome  one,  and  added  greatly  to  the  military 
appearance  of  the  regiment.  Prior  to  the  transfer  of  the 
regiment  to  Camp  Wright  great  excitement  was  occasioned 
in  the  county  and  along  the  Monongahela  valley  by  a  rebel 
raid,  supposed  to  threaten  Morgantown,  and  the  regiment, 
together  with  one  or  two  detached  companies,  was  ordered 
under  arms  for  the  defense  of  the  valley.  The  order  was 
countermanded  in  a  few  hours,  and  the  companies  relapsed 
into  their  accustomed  repose.  It  was  transferred  to  Camp 
Wright  soon  after  the  opening  of  that  camp,  and  remained 

*  Killed  at  Gaines'  Mill,  while  in  command  of  the  83d  P.  V. 

[  447  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

there  for  nearly  two  months,  incessantly  annoyed  during 
that  time  by  orders  and  countermands.  During  the  ' '  Mor- 
gantown  scare  "  arms  were  provided  for  them,  but  not 
distributed,  and  the  regiment  was  consequently  never 
armed.  It  was  never  permitted  to  form  a  permanent 
organization,  and  at  length  Col.  M'Lean  applied  directly 
to  the  War  Department  for  acceptance.  He  was  informed 
that  his  regiment  would  be  accepted  for  three  years  if 
ready  to  march  at  once.  On  his  return,  May  thirteenth. 
Col.  M'Lean  announced  the  result  of  his  mission,  on  dress 
parade,  and  the  matter  was  taken  into  consideration  by  the 
officers.  On  laying  the  proposition  before  the  men,  how- 
ever, a  majority  in  nearly  every  company  refused  to  re-enter 
service  for  three  years.  Many  had  enlisted  for  three 
months  who  could  not  leave  their  business  for  a  longer 
time,  but  by  far  the  largest  portion  were  thoroughly  dis- 
gusted by  their  treatment  in  camp.  On  July  nineteenth 
the  regiment  was  paid  off,  and  on  the  following  day  set  out 
on  its  return  to  Erie,  having  spent  three  months  in  forced 
inaction.  The  regiment,  as  such,  was  never  reorganized, 
but  nearly  all  its  members  re-enlisted  under  the  subsequent 
calls.  Col.  M'Lean  organizing  the  Eighty-third  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers.  He  was  subsequently  killed  in  action 
before  Richmond. 


The  Unaccepted  Companies. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  under  the  three  months' 
call  forty  or  fifty  companies  were  raised  in  excess  of  the 
county 's  quota,  and  that  an  attempt  was  subsequently  made 
to  organize  these  companies  into  independent  reserve  regi- 
ments. Under  a  heavy  ''  outside  pressure  "  Gov.  Curtin 
finally  agreed  to  establish  a  camp  at  Pittsburgh,  and  to 
order  six  Allegheny  county  companies  into  it.  Strenuous 
efforts  were  made  by  all  the  captains  to  secure  quarters 
in  camp  for  their  men,  but  out  of  over  forty  applicants  only 
four  were  successful.  Meetings  of  the  captains  were  being 
held  daily,  and  the  selection  of  ten  companies  became  a 
theme  of  angry  comment  among  those  not  selected,  or  as 
they    were    afterwards    known,    the    "  Unaccepted    Com- 

[  448  ] 


RECORDJS    OF    FOUR   WARS 

panies, ' '  Committees  were  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Com- 
mittee of  Public  Safety,  on  the  Governor,  and  every  one,  in 
fact,  to  whom  the  companies  could  look  for  assistance  in 
their  difficulties.  The  meetings  were  not  always  har- 
monious, and  utterly  failed  in  advancing  the  cause  for 
which  they  were  held,  becoming  at  length  merely  gather- 
ings for  the  purpose  of  venting  contending  views.  The 
position  of  many  of  the  officers  was  extremely  trying. 
Some  had  recruited  companies  with  their  own  funds,  at  the 
very  outset  of  the  excitement,  and  had  supported  the  men, 
mainly  at  their  own  expense,  for  several  weeks.  Others, 
who  had  made  their  appearance  in  the  field  latter,  had 
recruited  companies  and  been  ordered  into  camp,  where 
they  would  at  least  be  maintained  without  cost  to  the 
officers.  This  fact,  especially,  became  a  subject  of  bitter 
comment,  and  charges  of  unfairness  and  partiality  were 
freely  bandied  by  the  unsuccessful.  The  selection  of  the 
ten  companies,  as  may  be  supposed,  had  an  extremely  bad 
effect  upon  the  "  unaccepted,"  which  gradually  began  to 
decline.  It  was  discovered,  at  length,  that  no  aid  could  be 
obtained  either  from  the  State  authorities  or  the  com- 
munity, and  the  companies  began  gradually  to  disband. 
As  already  noted,  a  portion,  embracing  twenty-four  of  the 
companies,  had  been  organized  into  two  regiments,  and  a 
proposition  was  made  to  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety 
to  maintain  these  organizations,  if  the  community  would 
furnish  the  necessary  supplies  and  shelter  for  the  men. 
Linden  Grove  being  selected  as  a  camping  ground.  The 
committee  declined  to  assume  the  responsibility,  having  no 
fund  for  the  purpose,  and  the  organizations  at  legnth 
yielded  to  inevitable  fate,  and  disbanded.  The  last  meet- 
ing of  the  captains,  of  which  we  have  any  record,  was  held 
on  May  twenty-second,  and  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  call 
of  another  committee  appointed  to  wait  upon  the  Governor. 
Whether  this  committee  ever  reported  we  do  not  know,  but 
as  the  companies  were  already  entering  the  organizations 
of  other  States,  it  is  not  probable. 

Had  any  concerted  effort  been  made  at  this  time  by  the 
community,  there  is  no  doubt  that  two  or  three  regiments 
might  have  been  maintained  at  comparatively  trifling  cost, 
29  [  449  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

until  required  under  the  second  requisition  for  volunteer 
troops.     Gov.  Curtin,  although  he  had  recommended  the 
formation  of  a  reserve  corps,  refused  to  sanction  the  forma- 
tion of  companies  for  such  an  organization,  until  forced  to 
do  so  by  popular  opinion.    In  New  York,  on  the  contrary, 
Gen.  Sickles'  brigade  was  established,  although  volunteers; 
came  in  so  slowly  from  the  State  that  companies  from  other ' 
States  were   willingly  accepted.    Western  Virginia,   too,, 
which  was  just  beginning  to  assert  its  loyalty,  found  thes 
mustering  of  the  State  quota  of  volunteers  extremely  diffi-- 
cult,  and  at  length  established  a  camp  on  Wheeling  Island, , 
to  which  volunteers  from  all  the  surrounding  States  werei 
invited. 

In  the  meantime  it  had  become  apparent  that  the  Rebel- 
lion could  not  be  put  down  in  three  months,  nor  by  seventy- 
five  thousand  men,  and  the  loyal  community  anxiously 
awaited  a  second  call.  Among  the  independent  organiza-- 
tions  and  unaccepted  companies,  the  subject  of  a  three; 
years'  enlistment  had  already  been  broached,  and  was  gen-- 
erally  concurred  in. 

The  two  independent  regiments  formed  of  the  unaccepted  I 
companies  of  Allegheny  county  were  pledged  to  three; 
years'  enlistment,  if  taken  into  government  service.  The> 
inducements  held  out  by  Virginia  and  New  York,  at  length] 
proved  too  strong  for  the  companies  so  anxiously  awaitingr 
employment  at  Pittsburgh,  and  men  began  to  leave  by 
squads,  and  finally  by  companies  for  Wheeling. 

On  May  fourteenth  the  first  squad  of  thirty  men  left  for- 
Camp  Carlile,  on  Wheeling  Island.  It  was  subsequently- 
announced  that  all  companies  would  rendezvous  at  Wells- 
ville,  and  on  Virginia  soil  re-organize  as  Virginia  com- 
panies, by  re-electing  their  officers. 

On  the  ninth,  fifty  volunteers  from  different  companies,, 
some  of  them  disbanded,  followed  to  Wheeling  and  entered  I 
Virginia  companies.  On  the  twenty-second,  the  Spang; 
Infantry,  Capt.  Scanlon,  and  Woods  Guards,  Capt.  Hays,, 
left  for  Wheeling,  followed  on  May  second  by  the  Jacksoni 
Guards,  Capt.  Flesher.  The  Plummer  Guards,  Capt.  Johnij 
D.  Owens  (now  Lieut.-Colonel  139th  Pa.  Vols.),  a  com- 
pany exclusively  organized  and  uniformed  by  Jos.  Plum- 

[  450  ] 


RECORDS    OF    FOUR   WARS 

mer,  Esq.,  of  this  city,  started  for  Camp  Carlile  on  June 
fifth,  in  company  with  the  Anderson  Infantry,  Capt.  Alex- 
ander Scott,  subsequently  known  as  the  Belmont  Guards. 
The  Firemen  Zouaves  were  organized  in  Camp  Carlile,  on 
June  tenth,  by  Capt.  Robt.  Gibson.  On  the  sixth  and 
seventh  of  June  the  Friend  Rifles,  Capt.  Brunn,  a  company 
organized  and  uniformed  by  Porter  R.  Friend,  Esq.,  and 
the  U.  S.  Zouave  Cadets,  Co.  B,  under  Capt.  John  P.  Glass, 
left  for  New  York,  where  they  were  subsequently  organized 
in  the  Sickle's  Excelsior  Brigade  —  the  former  as  Co.  A, 
Third  Regiment,  and  the  latter  as  Co.  A,  Fifth  Regiment, 
A  few  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  companies  in  New  York, 
two  members  of  the  Zouaves,  Lieutenants  Ahl  and  W.  W. 
Wattles,  returned  and  organized  Co.  C  of  the  Cadets, 
which  left  for  New  York  on  the  twenty-first  of  June. 
Under  the  auspices  of  Capt.  Brunn  a  second  company  of 
Friend  Rifles  was  also  recruited  in  a  few  days,  and  left, 
under  command  of  Capt.  Alex.  Hay,  for  New  York,  on  the 
twenty-first,  in  company  with  Co.  C  of  the  Zouaves.  Some 
difficulty  took  place  on  their  arrival  in  New  York,  and  the 
two  companies,  or  the  major  portion  of  them,  returned  to 
Philadelphia,  and  were  organized  in  the  celebrated  Geary's 
Regiment,  since  claimed  as  a  "  Philadelphia  organization, ' ' 
exclusively. 

The  Pittsburgh  Independent  Scouts,  Capt.  Anderson, 
started  on  the  twentieth  of  June  for  Reading,  where  they 
were  incorporated  in  a  cavalry  regiment. 

The  falling  off  of  men  to  join  the  reserve  companies  in 
Camp  Wilkins,  and  those  who  entered  service  in  New  York 
and  Virginia  regiments,  so  reduced  the  unaccepted  com- 
panies, which  still  retained  their  organization,  as  to  render 
their  disbanding  an  imperative  necessity.  One  of  the  first 
companies  disbanded  —  the  Pennsylvania  Life  Guards  — 
had  already  cost  Capt.  Williams,  for  maintenance,  $600. 

Circumstances  have  since  shown  what  a  fatal  blunder  was 
committed  in  allowing  these  companies  to  enter  the  service 
of  other  States,  without  making  any  provision  for  their 
recognition  by  the  authorities  of  Pennsylvania.  Many 
hundreds  of  men  left  the  county  in  organized  companies, 
and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  nearly  an  equal  number  left 

[  451  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

singly  or  in  small  detaclunents  and  entered  companies 
formed  in  other  States,  thus  leaving  no  trace  whatever  of 
their  military  service.  The  neglect  of  the  county  to  pro- 
vide an  efficient  organization,  and  to  furnish  support  to  the 
"  Unaccepted  Companies,"  had  reduced  the  list  of  troops 
furnished,  on  which  it  had  relied  to  avoid  a  draft,  nearly 
three  thousand  men.  A  carefully  prepared  list  of  the  com- 
panies, which  entered  the  service  outside  of  Allegheny 
county  regiments,  shows  but  eight  or  ten  infantry  com- 
panies, including  those  of  Captains  West,  Ewing,  Gibson, 
and  Scott  in  the  Second  Virginia. 

The  Clothing  Fraud. 

No  history  of  the  ''  three  months'  campaign  "  would  be 
complete  without  a  record  of  the  celebrated  *'  clothing 
fraud  case. ' '  It  will  be  remembered  that  on  the  outbreak 
of  the  Rebellion  there  was  on  hand  in  the  country  but  a 
small  supply  of  *'  military  goods,"  such  as  heavy  blue 
cloth  for  uniforms,  blankets,  and  shoes.  In  purchasing 
supplies  for  the  State  troops  it  became  necessary,  therefore, 
to  adopt  a  different  standard  of  goods,  and  in  the  haste, 
requisite  to  fit  out  the  quota  of  Pennsylvania  immediately, 
the  ordinary  routine  of  advertising  for  proposals  was 
abandoned,  opening  a  wide  field  for  corruption  and  rascal- 
ity. The  troops  had  been  but  a  few  weeks  in  camp,  after 
receiving  their  uniforms  and  equipments  from  the  State, 
until  complaints  became  rife  of  the  miserable  quality  of  the 
clothing  and  shoes.  Many  of  the  suits  furnished  were  so 
rotten  and  poorly  made  up  that  they  fell  to  pieces  in  a  few 
days,  putting  the  wearers  to  the  most  absurd  shifts  to 
cover  their  nakedness.  Shoes  were  found  to  have  been 
constructed  with  an  ' '  insole  ' '  of  shavings  or  wood,  and  so 
slightly  put  together  that  the  outer  sole  would  part  com- 
pany on  the  first  day's  wear.  The  blouses  were  made  up 
of  materials  so  loosely  woven  as  to  resemble,  in  some  re- 
spects, bolting  cloth,  and  decidedly  better  fitted  for  sifting 
grain  than  protecting  the  wearers  from  the  inclemency  of 
the  weather.  The  material  used  for  this  clothing  was  that 
generally  known  in  trade  as  shoddy,  a  stuff  made  up  by 

[  452  ] 


RECORDS   OF   FOUR   WARS 

machinery  from  old  woolen  cloth.  On  May  twenty-first 
the  first  exposition  of  the  frauds  connected  with  these  cloth- 
ing contracts  appeared  in  the  Philadelphia  Inquirer.  A 
bill  for  $22,585.00  had  been  presented  by  Frowenfeld  & 
Bros.,  of  Pittsburgh,  who  had  obtained  a  contract  for  a 
large  number  of  uniforms  through  an  individual  named 
Charles  M.  Neal,  an  ''  agent  "  for  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  on  whose  endorsement  the  bill  was  '*  passed." 
The  bill  read  as  follows : 

2,085  uniforms  at  $10 $20,850 

347  pairs  of  pantaloons  at  $5 1,735 


$22,585 


The  "  uniforms  "  spoken  of  included,  it  is  supposed,  a 
coat  or  "■  blouse  "  and  pantaloons,  though  the  separate 
charge  throws  some  doubt  on  the  last  item.  Subsequent 
inquiry  has  utterly  failed  to  show  by  what  authority  Mr. 
Neal  acted  in  this  matter,  as  Gov.  Curtin  entirely  repudi- 
ated any  "  agencies  "  save  those  legitimately  appointed  — 
Quartermaster-General  Hale  and  Commissary-General 
Irvin.  The  quality  of  the  goods  for  which  these  enormous 
charges  were  made,  and  the  relation  of  Mr.  Neal  to  the 
contract,  were  afterwards  fully  shown  by  legal  investiga- 
tion. 

We  have  already  noticed  the  operations  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety,  and  soon 
after  this  statement  was  published,  an  investigation  was 
commenced  by  the  committee.  On  Tuesday,  May  twenty- 
eighth,  M.  Swartzwelder,  Esq.,  at  a  meeting  of  the  com- 
mittee, offered  a  preamble  and  resolution  alluding  to  the 
charges  of  fraud  in  general  circulation,  and  providing  for 
the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  investigate  the  charges. 
The  resolutions  were  adopted,  and  the  following  committee 
appointed:  M.  Swartzwelder,  Esq.,  Thos.  Bakewell,  Esq., 
Hon.  Wm.  F.  Johnston,  and  Wm.  M.  Shinn,  Esq. 

This  committee  addressed  a  note  to  the  Messrs.  Frowen- 
feld, inviting  their  attendance  at  the  examination,  on  Wed- 
nesday, May  twenty-ninth,  but  as  neither  of  them  appeared 
the  committee  sent  a  second  note  by  Mr.  Riddle,  one  of  the 

[  453  ] 


THE   HISTORY    OF    PITTSBURGH 

Mayor's  police.  To  this  note  an  insolent  reply  was  re- 
turned, that  the  parties  accused  would  have  nothing  to  say, 
and  an  intimation  that  the  bearer  of  the  note  would  be 
shown  the  door.  Messrs.  Frowenfeld  had  a  few  days 
before  published  a  note  in  relation  to  the  charges  made 
against  them,  and  requested  a  public  investigation ;  as  they 
now  refused  to  appear  the  committee  proceeded  without 
them.  They  examined  but  five  witnesses,  on  whose  state- 
ments the  matter  was  brought  before  the  Grand  Jury  on 
Tuesday,  June  fourth.  M.  Swartzwelder,  Esq.,  and  Thos. 
Williams,  Esq.,  were  retained  as  prosecuting  counsel. 

The  court  met  on  June  third,  and  the  Grand  Jury  organ- 
ized, after  an  able  charge  from  Judge  M'Clure,  in  which 
the  rascality  of  contractors  was  severely  commented  on, 
and  the  jury  charged  to  regard  the  furnishing  of  improper 
food  or  rotten  clothes  as  giving  aid  and  comfort  to  the 
enemy.  On  Monday,  June  twenty-fifth,  Mr.  Marshall, 
counsel  for  the  Frowenfeld s,  moved  for  a  continuance  of 
the  case  until  the  next  term  of  court.  Messrs.  Thos.  Wil- 
liams, M.  Swartzwelder,  and  J.  H.  Miller  appeared  for  the 
Commonwealth,  and  Hon.  Chas.  Shaler,  Thos.  M.  Marshall, 
F.  H.  Collier,  S.  W.  Black,  J.  M.  Kirkpatrick,  Jno.  Mellon, 
and  John  Coyle,  Esqs.,  for  the  defense.  The  case  was 
argued  on  the  same  day,  on  the  ground  that  Alfred  Slade, 
J.  N.  Shannon,  and  Jos.  Lee,  material  witnesses  for  the 
defendants,  were  absent.  The  court  withheld  a  decision 
until  the  Monday  following,  when,  the  docket  having  been 
meantime  cleared,  the  case  was  taken  up,  and  tw^o  of  the 
''  necessary  witnesses  "  were  brought  into  court.  The 
third  proved  to  be  of  no  importance.  Neal  's  bail  had  been 
forfeited,  but  was  now  renewed  by  his  counsel,  Mr.  Brew- 
ster, of  Philadelphia.  To  the  intense  surprise  of  the  com- 
munity, the  case  was  here  closed  by  a  certiorari  to  the 
Supreme  Court,  and  an  allocatur  from  Judge  Lowrie,  the 
defendants  having  sworn  that  the  president-judge  was  so 
far  prejudiced  against  them  that  they  could  not  obtain 
justice.  Such  a  grave  impeachment  of  the  venerable  and 
upright  judge  of  the  Quarter  Sessions  Court,  as  was  con- 
tained in  this  affidavit,  should  never  have  obtained  credence 
from  the  Supreme  Court,  and  the  surprise  of  the  prosecut- 

[  454  ] 


RECORDS    OF    FOUR   WARS 

ing  attorneys  may  well  be  pardoned.  A  rule  to  show  cause 
why  the  certiorari  should  not  be  rescinded  was  argued 
before  the  Supreme  Court,  on  July  second,  and  the  case 
was  regularly  transferred  to  the  Supreme  Court,  and  a 
hearing  fixed  for  the  first  Monday  in  September.  At  this 
time  a  continuance  was  asked  by  the  Commonwealth,  Syl- 
vester W.  Murphy,  a  clerk  of  the  Frowenfelds,  and  a  very 
important  witness,  inasmuch  as  the  prosecution  was  in  a 
great  measure  based  on  his  testimony  before  the  Grand 
Jury,  being  absent.  The  case  was  continued  till  the 
eighteenth  inst.  On  that  date,  Murphy  being  still  absent, 
a  nolle  pros  was  entered,  with  the  intention  of  entering  a 
new  bill  on  the  reappearance  of  the  witness.  Murphy  was 
subsequently  arrested  in  Philadelphia,  on  his  return  from 
his  trip  to  Europe,  but  this  extraordinary  case  was  never 
tried,  although  the  fact  that  the  suits  were  not  worth  half 
the  money  charged  was  well  substantiated.  Their  esti- 
mated cost  was  $7.00 ;  actual  value  for  wear,  nothing. 

The  Second  Requisition. 

Five  Hundred  Thousand  Volunteers. 

One  of  the  most  important  acts  of  the  special  session  of 
Congress,  called  by  Mr.  Lincoln,  was  to  authorize  the  Presi- 
dent to  accept  the  services  of  500,000  volunteers  for  three 
years.  Under  this  act,  arrangements  were  made  at  once 
for  re-organizing  the  three  months'  regiments  then  in  the 
field.  Unfortunately,  the  experience  of  the  Pennsylvania 
troops  had  not  been  such  as  to  induce  them  to  favor  the 
project.  Many  were  utterly  disgusted  with  the  organization 
of  their  companies  and  regiments,  scores  of  men  holding 
commissions  as  field  and  line  officers,  were  wholly  unfit 
for  the  positions  they  occupied.  Many  were  so  dissipated 
that  during  the  entire  campaign  their  commands  derived  no 
benefit  whatever  from  their  instructions.  Others  were  dis- 
satisfied with  the  treatment  they  had  received  at  the  hands 
of  the  State  authorities.  Towards  the  close  of  their  term 
of  service,  the  general  management  of  the  State  quota  was 
greatly  improved,  but  the  rotten  clothes,  and  still  worse, 

[  455  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

the  rotten  food,  supplied  at  the  outset  of  the  campaign,  were 
still  fresh  in  the  memories  of  the  outraged  troops.  The 
principal  objection,  however,  originated  no  doubt  in  the 
utterly  idle  and  unprofitable  character  of  the  campaigns  just 
closing.  For  nearly  three  months,  the  men  had  lain  idly  in 
camps  or  had  been  fruitlessly  marched  and  counter-marched 
until  completely  worn  down.  We  have  already  given  in 
detail  the  campaign  of  the  four  regiments  in  which  the  Alle- 
gheny companies  were  organized,  and  an  ample  illustration 
of  all  of  these  causes  of  complaint  will  be  found  in  this  brief 
sketch. 

As  we  have  already  noted,  the  troops  composing  the 
Allegheny  county  quota  reached  home  on  the  twenty-ninth 
of  July,  and  first  of  August,  scattered  detachments  having 
arrived  during  the  previous  week.  The  reserve  regiments 
had  been  sent  to  Washington  a  few  days  previous,  but  the 
city  was  by  no  means  cleared  of  military. 

On  the  twenty-ninth,  a  camp  for  regular  cavalry  was 
established  at  Linden  Grove,  under  Col.  Emory,  and  several 
of  the  unaccepted  companies,  which  had  maintained  their 
organizations,  were  pressing  forward. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  disbanded  three  months'  men,  re- 
cruiting offices  were  at  once  established,  and  after  a  few 
days  of  comparative  quiet,  recruiting  proceeded  almost  as 
briskly  as  in  the  earlier  days  of  the  war  excitement,  al- 
though men  were  already  beginning  to  thoroughly  compre- 
hend the  trials  of  the  service,  and  the  magnitude  of  the  task 
before  the  government. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  July,  Gen.  Geo.  B.  M'Clellan - 
who  up  till  a  few  days  previous  had  held  a  comparatively 
unimportant  command  in  Western  Virginia,  had  been 
called  to  Washington  to  assume  the  task  of  re-organizing 
the  army  —  passed  through  the  city.  He  was  received  at 
the  Allegheny  Station  by  an  immense  crowd,  and  was  es- 
corted to  the  Monongahela  House  by  the  Twin  City 
Rangers,  Capt.  Geo.  Thompson,  and  Allegheny  Greys,  Capt. 
Boisel.  Nearly  all  the  Home  Guard  companies  in  the  two 
cities  were  in  the  line  of  procession,  which  was  closed  by  the 
companies  composing  the  Fire  Department.  The  Fort  Pitt 
battery,  divided  into  two  sections  and  stationed  on  Cliff 

[  456  ] 


RECOEDS   OF    FOUR   WARS 

street  and  Seminary  Hill,  fired  a  Major-General's  salute  on 
his  arrival.  At  the  Monongahela  House  he  was  welcomed 
by  Judge  Shannon,  and  replied  briefly.  Col.  Saml.  W. 
Black,  who  had  returned  a  short  time  previous  from 
Nebraska,  of  which  territory  he  had  been  Governor,  also 
made  an  eloquent  address,  closing  the  ceremonies  of  one  of 
the  most  brilliant  and  enthusiastic  receptions  ever  given  by 
the  city. 

On  the  twenty-third  inst.  an  immense  mass  meeting  was 
held  in  City  Hall,  in  reference  to  the  proposed  increase  of 
the  army.  S.  F.  Von  Bonnhorst,  Esq.,  was  called  to  the 
chair,  and  Thomas  P.  Bakewell  and  Rev.  John  Douglass 
were  appointed  vice-presidents.  Resolutions  were  adopted 
urging  the  collection  of  funds  to  aid  m  filling  up  the  com- 
panies recruiting,  and  to  provide  for  the  families  of  vol- 
unteers, and  the  following  gentlemen  appointed  on  the  com- 
mittee: Hon.  T.  M.  Howe,  H.  M'Cullough,  Esq.,  Dr.  J. 
Carothers,  Wm.  Thaw,  Esq.,  John  Scott,  Esq.,  and  Alex- 
ander Nimick,  Esq.  The  committee  set  actively  about  the 
duties  entrusted  to  them,  and  on  the  following  week  the 
recruiting  of  a  regiment,  to  be  under  command  of  Col. 
Oliver  H.  Rippey,  was  commenced.  A  regiment  was  already 
partially  recruited  for  Col.  Samuel  W.  Black,  and  Col.  Row- 
ley, of  the  Thirteenth  P.  V.,  began  the  re-organization  of 
that  regiment,  Lieuts.  Foster  and  M'llwaine  recruiting 
companies.  On  Saturday,  August  third,  the  first  three 
years'  regiment  left  for  Washington  under  Col.  Black. 

The  Three  Years'   Service  Men.* 

Recruited  in  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny  County. 

Eleventh  Regiment. 

Co.  G  —  Captains  John  B.  McGrew,  Robert  Anderson. 

Twenty-eighth  Regiment. 
Co.  L  —  Capt.  James  Barr. 

*  Roster  from  the  History  of  Allegheny  County. 

[  457  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

Thirty-seventh   Regiment  —  Eighth   Reserves. 

Colonel  —  George  S.  Hays,  M.  D. 

Co.  B  —  Captains  Robert  E.  Johnson,  Frank  M.  Nelson. 

Co.  C  —  Captains  George  Hays,  George  S.  Gallnpe,  Jo- 
seph Fricker. 

Co.  E  —  Captains  John  W.  Duncan,  E.  P.  Shoenberger, 
William  Brooks. 

Thirty-eighth  Regiment  —  Ninth  Reserves. 

Co.  A  —  Captains  L.  W.  Smith,  Charles  W.  Owston. 

Co.  B  —  Captains  F.  Hardtmeyer,  Emil  Von  Sothen, 
Henry  Fuhren. 

Co.  C  —  Captains  James  T.  Shannon,  Robert  Taggart. 

Co.  D  —  Captains  Robert  Galway,  John  K.  Barbour, 
James  B.  Ludwick. 

Co.  E  —  Captains  Charles  Barnes,  William  H.  Erwin. 

Co.  G  —  Capt.  John  B.  Brookbank. 

Co.    I  —  Captains  William  Lynch,  Hartley  Howard. 

Co.  K  —  Captains  H.  S.  Fleming,  James  W.  Ballentine. 

Forty-fourth   Regiment  —  First   Cavalry. 
Co.  K  —  Captains  William  Boyce,  Jos.  H.  Williams. 

Forty-sixth  Regiment. 

Co.  B  — Captains  William  L.  Foulk,  Henry  N.  Great- 
sake,  Elijah  Barnes. 

Co.  F  —  Captains  Benjamin  W.  Morgan,  Neal  Craig, 
Eugene  Alexander. 

Forty-ninth  Regiment. 
Co.  K  -  Capt.  John  F.  Reynolds. 

Fifth  Regiment  —  West  Virginia  Cavalry  Volunteers. 

Lieut.-Colonel  —  Alexander  Scott. 
Major  —  David  D.  Barclay. 

[  458  ] 


RECORDS    OF   FOUR   WARS 

First  Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster  —  John  C.  French. 

Co.  A  —  Captains  Albert  C.  Hayes,  William  Otto,  John 
A.  Hunter,  Oliver  R.  West. 

Co.  D  —  Captains  Thomas  Gibson,  Jr.,  D.  D.  Barclay, 
John  R.  Frisbee. 

Co.  F  —  Captains  Alexander  Scott,  Henry  C.  Flesher, 
Thomas  B.  Smith. 

First  Regiment  —  West  Virginia  Artillery. 
Co.  G  —  Captains  J.  D.  Owens,  Chatham  T.  Ewing. 

Fifty-seventh  Regiment. 

Co.  C  —  Captains  Jerome  B.  Hoagland,  William  B. 
Neeper,  Sprague  S.  Hill,  Michael  W.  Houser. 

Co.  E  —  Captains  James  B.  Moore,  Wm.  S,  Ebbeeman, 
Edson  J.  Rice,  Edgar  Williams,  Ellis  C.  Strouss. 

Sixtieth  Regiment  —  Third  Cavalry. 
Co.  G  —  Captains  O.  0.  G.  Robinson,  J.  Lee  Englebert. 

Sixty-first  Regiment. 

Co.  B  —  Captains  Lewis  Redenback,  Casper  Kauffman. 

Co.  C  —  Captains  George  W.  Dawson,  W.  0.  H.  Robin- 
son, Charles  S.  Greene,  John  W.  McClay. 

Co.  E  —  Captains  Alexander  Hay,  William  H.  Crawford, 
William  J.  Glenn,  Charles  H.  Clausen,  Andrew  J.  Bingham. 

Co.  F  —  Isaac  Wright,  Charles  H.  Bryson,  William  H. 
Rogers. 

Co.  H  —  Capt.  Horatio  K.  Tyler. 

Co.    I  —  Capt.  Isaac  Wright. 

Co.  K  —  Captains  Joseph  Gerard,  Louis  Hager,  David 
McClaiu. 

New  Co.  K  —  Capt.  Henry  Scriba. 

Sixty-second  Regiment. 

Colonels  —  Samuel  W.  Black,  J.  Bowman  Sweitzer. 
Lieut.-Colonel  —  T.  Frederick  Lehman. 

[  459  ] 


THE   HISTORY    OF    PITTSBURGH 

Co.  A  —  Captains  James  C.  Hull,  James  Brown,  William 
Crider. 

Co.  B  —  Captains  James  W.  Patterson,  William  J.  Salis- 
bury, Matthew  M.  Felker. 

Co.  F  -  Capt.  Edward  S.  Wright. 

Co.  G  —  Captains  Frank  C.  O'Brien,  William  Kennedy. 

Co.  H  —  Captains  John  Espy,  Samuel  Conner. 

Co.  K  —  Captains  Alexander  W.  McDonald,  Ed.  W.  Tim- 
mony. 

Co.  L  —  Captains  Shepley  R.  Holmes,  Detrick  Gruntz. 

Sixty-third  Regiment. 

Colonels  —  Alexander  Hays,  A.  S.  M.  Morgan. 

Co.  A  —  Captains  J.  M.  C.  Berringer,  William  Smith, 
William  P.  Hunker. 

Co.  B  —  Captains  Wm.  S.  Kirkwood,  Tim.  L.  Maynard, 
Robert  A.  Nesbit. 

Co.  C  —  Captains  Jason  R.  Hanna,  Charles  W.  Taylor, 
George  W.  Gray,  George  Weaver. 

Co.  D  —  Captains  Harry  0.  Ormsbee,  Benjamin  F.  Dun- 
ham, William  J.  Thompson,  G.  Emanuel  Gross. 

Co.  E  —  Captains  John  A.  Danks,  John  McClellan. 

Co.  G  —  Captains  Charles  W.  McHenry,  Isaac  Moorhead. 

Co.  H  —  Captains  Maurice  Wallace,  C.  B.  McCulloiigh, 
William  Keenan,  Hugh  B.  Fulton,  William  H.  Jeffries, 
Daniel  Dougherty. 

Co.    I  —  Captains  James  F.  Ryan,  William  C.  Mcintosh. 

Co.  K  —  Captains  Charles  W.  Chapman,  William  Hays 
Brown,  Theodore  Bagaley,  George  B.  Chalmers. 

Sixty-fourth  Regiment  —  Fourth   Cavalry. 

Colonel  —  James  H.  Childs. 

Co.  B  —  Captains  Samuel  B.  M.  Young,  Frank  H.  Parke, 
James  H.  Grenet. 

Co.  E  —  Captains  James  A.  Herron,  Robert  A.  Robinson, 
William  K.  Gillespie. 

Co.  G  —  Captains  Benjamin  B.  Blood,  Elias  L.  Gillespie, 
Daniel  C.  Boggs. 

[  460  1 


RECORDS   OF   FOUR   WARS 

Sixty-fifth  Regiment  —  Fifth  Cavalry. 

Co.  L  —  Captains  D.  P.  Hagameister,  John  E.  Reinmil- 
ler,  John  C.  Brown,  William  Rawle  Brooke. 

Co.  M  —  Captains  Anderson  Faith,  John  P.  Wenzel,  G. 
S.  L.  Ward. 

Sixty-seventh  Regiment. 
Co.    I  -  Capt.  John  F.  McDonald. 

Seventy-fourth  Regiment. 

Co.  B  —  Captains  John  G.  Wilson,  Peter  C.  Spencer. 

Co.  I  —  Captains  John  Hamm,  Charles  Kapp,  Ernest 
Matzka,  Michael  Rossell,  Gustav  Sehliter,  Gottlieb  Hoburg, 
Carl  Veitenheimer,  Charles  Neidhart. 

Co.  K  —  Captains  Alexander  Von  Mitzel,  John  Zeh. 

Seventy-sixth  Regiment. 
Co.  K  —  Captains  John  S.  Littell,  William  S.  Moorhead. 

Seventy-seventh  Regiment. 

Co.  B  —  Captains  Thomas  E.  Rose,  John  W.  Kreps, 
Frank  A.  M.  Kreps. 

New  Co.  D  —  Capt.  James  Shaw. 
Co.  E  —  Capt.  Wm.  A.  Robinson. 
New  Co.  E  -  Capt.  Sidney  J.  Brauff. 

Seventy-eighth  Regiment. 

Colonel  —  Augustus  B.  Bonnaffon. 
New  Co.  F  —  Capt.  James  F.  Graham. 
New  Co.  H  —  Capt.  Paul  Crawford. 
New  Co.  I  -  Capt.  Charles  D.  Wiley. 

Eightieth  Regiment  —  Seventh  Cavalry. 

Co.  H  —  Captains  Samuel  Hibler,  Charles  L.  Greeno, 
Clinton  W.  Boone. 

Co.  M  —  Captains  Bartholomew  Scanlin,  Joseph  G.  Vale, 
Charles  Brandt. 

[  461  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

Eighty-second  Regiment. 

Colonel  —  David  H.  Williams. 

Co.  B  —  Captains  William  Kopp,  William  H.  Knight. 

Eighty-third  Regiment. 

New  Co.  G  —  Capt.  Casper  Gang. 

New  Co.  H  —  Capt.  Henry  W.  Horbach. 

Eighty-seventh  Regiment. 

New  Co.  F  —  Capt.  James  R.  McCormick. 
New  Co.  G  —  Capt.  Wm.  H.  Trovillo. 

One  Hundred  and  First  Regiment. 

Co.  A  —  Captains  David  M.  Armour,  James  Sheafer. 
Co.  E  —  Captains  James  Clialfant,  L.  T.  Fetterman. 
Co.  G  —  Captains  William  B.  Sprague,  David  W.  Mullin. 
Co.  I  —  Capt.  George  W.  Bowers. 

One  Hundred  and  Second  Regiment. 

Colonels  —  Thomas  A.  Rowley,  Joseph  M.  Kinkead,  John 
W.  Paterson,  James  Patehell. 

Lieut.-Colonels  —  William  Mcllwaine,  James  D.  Kirk. 

Majors  —  John  Poland,   Joseph   Browne,    Thomas   Mc- 
Laughlin, James  H.  Coleman,  James  D.  Duncan. 

Adjutants  —  Robert  M.  Kinkead,  Alexander  P.  Callow, 
Louis  F.  Brown. 

Quartermasters  —  Allen  C.  Day,  James  T.  Wray,  An- 
drew W.  Moreland,  Marcus  W.  Lewis. 

Surgeons  —  W.  J.  Fleming,  Mat.  P.  Morrison. 

Assistant  Surgeons  —  Isaac  Hughes,  Jonathan  H.  Rob- 
erts, C.  C.  V.  A.  Crawford,  J.  J.  Pennypacker. 

Chaplains  —  Alexander  M.  Stewart,  David  Jones. 

Sergeant-Majors  —  Andrew  A.  Wasson,  Andrew  Wayt, 
William  McConway. 

Quartermaster-Sergeants  —  William  Earle,  Hamilton  J. 
Rodgers,  William  S.  Sheib. 

[  462  1 


RECORDS   OF   FOUR   WARS 

Commissary-Sergeants  —  William  H.  Cowan,  Richard 
Barrows. 

Musicians  —  Randolph  C.  Curry,  Cooper  Feilding. 

Hospital  Stewards  —  Charles  F.  Clifford,  Arthur  Wylie. 

Co.  A  —  Captains  J.  Heron  Foster,  Charles  G.  Foster, 
W.  Stewart  Day,  Foster  Alward. 

Co.  B  — Captains  Thomas  H.  Duff,  Thomas  E.  Kirk- 
bride,  James  S.  Mclntyre. 

Co.  C  —  Captains  Andrew  Large,  John  Large,  Denny 
O'Neil,  Samuel  Mathews. 

Co.  D  —  Captains  William  C.  Enright,  James  Patchell. 

Co.  E  —  Captains  John  W.  Patterson,  Thomas  Dain, 
James  Bishop,  Samuel  M.  Duvall. 

Co.  F  —  Captains  William  Mellwaine,  James  D.  Duncan, 
Hugh  Mellwaine. 

Co.  G  —  Captains  James  H.  Coleman,  John  J.  Boyd. 

Co.  H  —  Captains  Thomas  McLaughlin,  Robert  W.  Lyon. 

Co.  I  —  Captains  Orlando  M.  Loomis,  W.  H.  H.  Hubley. 

Co.  K  —  Captains  Hamlet  Lowe,  Wm.  J.  McCreary,  Wil- 
liam D.  Jones,  George  H.  Workman. 

Co.  L  —  Captains  James  D.  McFarland,  James  D.  Kirk. 

Co.  M  —  Captains  Samuel  L.  Fullwood,  A.  D.  J. 
Heastings. 

One  Hundred  and  Third  Regiment. 

Co.  C  —  Captains  Simon  P.  Townsend,  Albert  Fahne- 
stock,  John  M.  Cochran,  Thomas  A.  Cochran. 

Co.  F  —  Captains  Math.  B.  McDowell,  Josiah  Zink,  John 
Donaghy. 

Co.  I  —  Captains  Wilson  C.  Maxwell,  William  Fielding. 

Co.  K  —  Capt.  James  Adams. 

One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Regiment. 

Co.  D  —  Captains  John  Rose,  Levi  Bird  Duff,  Isaac  L. 
Piatt,  William  Kelly. 

One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Regiment  —  Thirteenth 

Cavalry. 

Co.  E  —  Captains  Patrick  Kane,  Nathaniel  S.  Sneyd, 
George  R.  McGuire. 

[  463  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Regiment  —  Nine 
Months'  Service. 

Colonel  —  John  B.  Clark. 

Lieut.-Colonels  —  Frederick  Gast,  Richard  C.  Dale. 

Majors  —  Hugh  Danver,  Charles  D.  Wiley. 

Adjutant  —  Wm.  P.  McNary. 

Quartermaster  —  Frank  M.  Love, 

Surgeon  —  Henry  F.  Martin. 

Assistant  Surgeons  —  John  S.  Angle,  Samuel  S.  Stewart, 
William  S.  Stewart. 

Chaplain  —  H.  L.  Chapman. 

Sergeant-Majors  —  Bascom  B.  Smith,  John  Lord. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant  —  Franklin  G.  Bailey. 

Commissary-Sergeant  —  James  C.  Pearson. 

Hospital  Steward  —  Laurence  S.  White. 

Co.  A  —  Captains  Frederick  Gast,  Charles  D.  Wiley, 
Ephraim  Wiley. 

Co.  B  —  Captains  Hugh  Danver,  Hugh  B.  Murphy. 

Co.  C  —  Capt.  David  E.  Adams. 

Co.  D  —  Capt.  Horatio  K.  Tyler. 

Co.  E  —  Capt.  John  S.  Bell. 

Co.  F  —  Captains  John  Boyd,  Michael  Bair. 

Co.  G  —  Captains  Daniel  Boisel,  Robert  T.  Woodburn. 

Co.  H  —  Capt.  Simon  Drum. 

Co.  I  —  Capt.  Robert  D.  Humes. 

Co.  K  —  Captains  Henry  Maxwell,  Thomas  Maxwell. 


One  Hundred  and  Thirty-sixth  Regiment  —  Nine 
Months'  Service. 

Colonel  —  Thomas  M.  Bayne. 
Lieut.-Colonel  —  Isaac  Wright. 
Adjutant  —  Alex.  H.  Rodgers. 
Co.  E  —  Captains  Isaac  Wright,  David  Evans. 
Co.  F  —  Capt.  Edward  J.  Seibert. 
Co.  G  —  Capt.  Henry  W.  Larimer. 

Co.  H  —  Captains  Thomas  M.  Bayne,  Samuel  S.  Mar- 
ehand,  Frank  A.  Dilworth. 

[  464  ] 


RECORDS   OF   FOUR   WARS 

One  Hundred  and  Thirty-ninth  Regiment. 

Co.  D  —  Captains  Robert  Munroe,  Joseph  T.  Black. 

Co.  E  —  Captains  J.  M.  Sample,  Israel  V.  Hoag,  Andrew 
S.  Warner. 

Co.  F  —  Captains  George  W.  Marsh,  William  W.  Dyer, 
John  Snodgrass. 

Co.  G  —  Captains  Edward  M.  Jenkins,  Samuel  C. 
Schoyer. 

Co.  I  —  Captains  Joseph  R.  Oxley,  John  C.  Dempsey, 
Wm.  P.  Herbert,  John  C.  Sample. 

Co.  K  —  Captains  James  McGregor,  William  L.  Pettit. 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  Regiment. 

Colonels  —  Edward  J.  Allen,  John  H.  Cain,  Alfred  L. 
Pearson. 

Lieut.-Colonels  —  James  Collard,  John  Ewing. 

Major  —  John  A.  Kline. 

Adjutant  —  Edward  A.  Montooth. 

Quartermasters  —  Frank  Van  Gorder,  James  B.  Palmer. 

Surgeons  —  James  M.  Hoffman,  Joseph  A.  E.  Reed, 
Elias  C.  Kitchen. 

Assistant  Surgeons  —  W.  Stockton  Wilson,  A.  D.  Tewks- 
bury,  Charles  K.  Thompson. 

Chaplains  —  John  M.  Thomas,  Joseph  Mateer. 

Sergeant-Majors  —  William  Shore,  George  F.  Morgan, 
Arthur  W.  Bell,  John  H.  Irwin. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant  —  John  G.  Ralston. 

Commissary-Sergeant  —  William  B.  Glass. 

Hospital  Steward  —  Ellis  C.  Thorn. 

Musicians  —  Hawdon  Marshall,  William  Mooney. 

Co.  A  —  Captains  Alfred  L.  Pearson,  Frank  J.  Buchard, 
John  C.  Stewart,  Edward  P.  Johnston. 

Co.  B  —  Captains  Benjamin  B.  Kerr,  Henry  W.  Grubbs. 

Co.  C  —  Captains  John  H.  Cain,  Lee  Anshultz,  James  S. 
Palmer,  Augustus  E.  Heisy. 

Co.  D  —  Captains  James  J.  Hall,  Samuel  Kilgore. 

Co.  E  —  Captains  Frank  Van  Gorder,  Joseph  B.  Sackett, 
George  M.  Laughlin. 

30  [  465  ] 


THE   HISTORY    OF    PITTSBUEGH 

Co.  F  —  Captains  John  Markle,  Edward  E.  Clapp,  G.  P. 
McClelland. 

Co.  I  —  Captains  Samuel  A.  McKee,  John  T.  Bell. 
Co.  K  —  Captains  John  A.  Cline,  Benjamin  Huey. 


One  Hundred  and  Ninety-thied  Regiment  —  One  Hun- 
dred Days'  Service. 

Colonel  —  John  B,  Clark. 
Lieut.-Colonel  —  James  W.  Ballentine. 
Major  —  Horatio  K.  Tyler. 
Adjutant  —  Wm.  P.  McNary. 
Quartermaster  —  Francis  G.  Bailey. 
Surgeon  —  Charles  Bower. 

Assistant  Surgeons  —  Robert  J.  Tomb,  William  N.  Miller. 
Sergeant-Major  —  John  C.  Mapes. 
Quartermaster-Sergeant  —  Wm.  H.  Jeffries. 
Commissary-Sergeant  —  Horace  C.  Benham. 
Hospital  Steward  —  Hamilton  Yoder. 
Principal  Musician  —  David  I.  Campbell. 
Co.  A  —  Captains  James  W.  Ballentine,  Isaac  N.  Mc- 
Munn. 

Co.  B  —  Captains  John  B.  Clark,  John  S.  Bell. 

Co.  C  —  Capt.  John  Dorrington. 

Co.  D  —  Capt.  Frederick  Gast. 

Co.  F  —  Capt.  James  L.  Graham. 

Co.  G  —  Capt.  James  E.  Crow. 

Co.  H  —  Captains  Horatio  K.  Tyler,  James  R.  Macormac. 

Co.  K  —  Capt.  Isaac  Wright. 

Two  Hundred  and  Fourth  Regiment  —  Fifth  Artillery. 

Colonel  —  George  S.  Gallupe. 
Lieut.-Colonel  — -  Joseph  Browne. 

Majors  —  Michael    Baer,   Howard   Morton,    George    M. 
Irwin,  Wm.  H.  Hope. 

Adjutant  —  Robert  G.  Hare. 
Quartermaster  —  Wm.  H.  McClelland. 
Surgeon  —  John  Barber. 

Assistant  Surgeons  —  James  McCann,  David  R.  Greenlee. 

[  466  ] 


EECORDS   OF   FOIJK   WARS 

Sergeant-Major  —  Lucius  R.  Boyle. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant  —  Charles  Barker. 

Commissary-Sergeants  —  John  N.  Zeigler,  Wm.  T. 
Stevenson. 

Hospital  Steward  —  Wm.  H.  Whitmore. 

Chief  Bugler  —  Ferdinand  A.  Winters. 

Battery  A  —  Captains  William  H.  Hope,  Albert  Peart. 

Battery  B  —  Captains  George  M.  Irwin,  Charles  D. 
Rhodes. 

Battery  C  —  Capt.  Richard  B.  Young. 

Battery  D  —  Capt.  Webster  B.  Lowman. 

Battery  E  —  Capt.  Joseph  Anderson. 

Battery  F  ■ —  Capt.  Francis  C.  Flanigin. 

Battery  G  —  Capt.  Christian  Ross. 

Battery  H  —  Captains  Augustus  Hani,  Geo.  W,  Smith. 

Battery  I  —  Capt.  James  C.  Hawk. 

Battery  K  —  Capt.  John  M.  Kent. 

Battery  L  —  Capt.  Joseph  B.  Zeigler. 

Battery  M  —  Capt.  John  E.  Alward. 

Independent  Battery  C  (Thompson's)  —  Capt.  James 
Thompson. 

Independent  Battery  E  (Knap's)  — Captains  Joseph  M. 
Knap,  Charles  A.  Atwell,  James  D.  McGill,  Thomas  S. 
Sloan. 

Independent  Battery  F  (Hampton's)  —  Captains  Robert 
B.  Hampton,  Nathaniel  Irish. 

Independent  Battery  G  (Young's)  —  Capt.  John  Jay 
Young. 

Independent  Batter}'  II  (John  J.  Nevin's)  —  Captains 
John  J.  Nevin,  William  Borrowe,  Edwin  H.  Nevin,  Jr. 

Then  came  the  day  when  danger  threatened  Pittsburgh, 
late  in  the  Spring  of  1863,  immediately  following  the  battle 
of  Chancellorsville. 

Perhaps  this  may  have  been  a  "  scare,"  but  there  is  no 
doubt  that  General  Lee  was  ordered  by  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy to  make  Pittsburgh,  if  possible.  It  may  even  be 
that  his  intention  was  to  reach  Lake  Erie,  and  then,  as 
always,  Pittsburgh  was  a  great  stragetic  point.  The  rumors 
of  this  contemplated   invasion  were  abroad  long  before 

[  467  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

Lee's  army  ever  entered  Pennsylvania.  General  Hooker 
suspected  it  early  in  May,  and  so  had  Secretary  of  War 
Stanton  even  earlier.  Pittsburghers  did  not  slight  these 
valuable  warnings.  The  question  was  thoroughly  dis- 
cussed, and  by  June  sixth,  1863,  it  was  decided  to  appoint 
a  ^'  Committee  on  Organization  for  Home  Defenses."  It 
was  composed  of  J.  Herron  Foster,  Chairman,  T.  M.  Bayne, 
J.  B.  Clark,  Robert  Galway,  Lieut.-Col.  J.  B,  Kiddo,  Major 
Joseph  Brown,  J.  N.  Knap,  C.  W.  McHenry,  R.  H.  Patter- 
son, E.  J.  Seibert,  and  John  H.  Stewart.  They  addressed 
the  people  of  the  county,  urging  them  to  form  military 
organizations;  by  the  ninth  a  battery  of  artillery  was 
formed,  and  on  the  tenth  Gen.  J.  G.  Barnard,  government 
engineer,  arrived  to  erect  the  fortifications. 

The  Hon.  Thomas  M.  Howe,  then  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General  of  the  State,  received  the  following: 

"  Wae  Depaetment,'  11.45  p.  m. 

'*  Washington,  June  10,  1863. 
''To  Hon.  Thomas  M.  Hoive: 

'■ '  Major-General  Brooks  left  here  this  morning  for  Pitts- 
burgh to  take  command  of  the  '  Department  of  the  Monon- 
gahela.'  He  is  an  able  and  resolute  officer,  but  will  need 
all  the  assistance  you  and  your  people  can  give.  I  wish 
you  would  go  on  his  staff.  The  latest  intelligence  indicates 
that  you  have  no  time  to  lose  organizing  and  pTeparing  for 
defense.  All  the  field  artillery  on  hand  at  Watertown  has 
been  sent  by  express  to  Pittsburgh.  Whatever  aid  can  be 
given  here  you  shall  have. 

"  Edwin   M.   Stanton." 

The  people  were,  of  course,  stirred  and  resolute  for  their 
own  defense.  On  the  following  Sunday  evening  there  was 
a  meeting  of  the  citizens,  which  took  place  at  the  Monon- 
gahela  House,  with  Thomas  Bakewell,  Esq.,  in  the  chair, 
George  H.  Thurston  serving  as  secretary.  After  much 
consideration  it  was  decided  to  close  all  the  shops  and 
factories  in  the  city  and  to  put  the  men  to  work,  under  the 
government  engineers,  to  erect  the  fortifications,  and  early 

[  468  ] 


RECORDS    OF    FOUR   WARS 

the  following  morning  the  employees  of  the  different  mills 
and  factories  assembled  in  crowds  in  front  of  the  Monon- 
gahela  House,  ready  for  any  work. 

George  H.  Thurston  was  put  in  charge  of  the  work  on 
Herron  Hill ;  on  Davis  Hill  the  men  reported  to  Capt.  Bar- 
bour, and  on  Mt.  Washington  to  Gen.  James  G.  Barnard. 
Merchants  led  their  men  to  the  earthworks  themselves. 
Jones  &  Laughlin  said,  ' '  give  us  your  engineers,  plans,  and 
specifications  for  the  fort  you  desire  built  on  the  Hill 
above  us  and  we  will  do  the  rest,"  and  they  put  two  thou- 
sand of  their  own  men  to  work,  paying  them  out  of  their 
own  pockets  the  regular  government  wages.  The  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company  sent  two  hundred  of  their  own 
men  with  twenty  carts,  and  two  hundred  retailers  of  the 
south  side  organized  and  were  given  places.  One  hundred 
and  forty  men  came  from  the  Draymen  and  Carters' 
Society,  one  hundred  and  thirty  from  various  places,  two 
hundred  and  seventy-four  from  cooper  shops,  fifty-five 
from  the  police  force,  fifty  from  what  was  known  as  the 
Arsenal  Guard,  forty-eight  from  the  Fort  Pitt  Foundry 
Company,  forty  water  boys,  and  thirty-two  of  the  city 
photographers.  The  entire  city  turned  out  for  its  own 
defense.  All  the  liquor  stores  were  shut,  and  the  work  still 
went  on.  From  Jefferson  College  came  ninety  students, 
who  went  to  work  with  pick  and  shovel  as  zealously  as  any 
one  else.  In  all,  there  were  on  some  days  as  many  as  six- 
teen thousand  at  work  on  the  trenches,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  the  city  surroundings  presented  the  appearance  of 
real  war,  with  its  miles  of  earthworks,  redoubts,  and  forts. 

No.  1  embraced  the  line  from  Gazzam's  hill  to  Wine- 
biddle  woods;  No.  2  comprised  works  on  Squirrel  hill; 
No.  3,  the  works  south  of  the  Monongahela  river ;  No.  4,  the 
works  in  Allegheny ;  No.  5,  the  works  on  Davis  hill,  between 
Lawrenceville  and  East  Liberty,  and  No.  6,  the  works  at 
Turtle  Creek. 

Many  people  thought  martial  law  ought  to  be  declared, 
and  nearly  all  business  was  suspended,  but  by  the  opening 
days  of  July  the  fortifications  were  practically  finished,  and 
it  was  thoroughly  realized  by  that  time  that  the  southerners 
would  never  reach  Pittsburgh.      The  gallantry  that  had 

[  469  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

carried  them  into  Chambersburg  had  not  the  enduring 
strength  to  bring  them  into  Pittsburgh.  Later  came  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  the  strength  of  the  south  was 
broken.  When  the  news  of  that  great  victory  was  heard  in 
Pittsburgh,  signal  rockets  were  fired  for  five  minutes  from 
the  twenty-seven  forts,  and  the  hills  echoed  with  the  re- 
joicings. Some  of  these  grass-grown  fortifications  can  be 
seen  to-day,  but  many  of  them  have  been  removed,  because 
there  is  only  room  in  Pittsburgh  for  great  industries,  and 
places  for  the  people  whose  vitality  gives  it  life. 

The  Third  REQuisiTio^ir  and  a  History  of  the  Draft.* 

The  third  requisition  for  three  hundred  thousand  men, 
and  the  draft  ordered  for  an  equal  number,  may  be  treated 
as  a  single  event,  as  but  few  volunteers  were  secured  until 
after  the  second  order  was  issued.  In  several  States  the 
orders  were  considered  as  a  call  for  six  hundred  thousand 
men,  and  apportioned  among  the  district  as  a  single  quota. 
In  Pennsylvania  the  recruiting  of  the  quota  had  been  so 
mismanaged  that  no  definite  policy  can  be  said  to  have  been 
pursued  relative  to  it.  It  is  quite  probable  that  the  gov- 
ernors were  notified  on  the  issuing  of  the  third  requisition 
that  an  order  for  a  draft  would  follow,  but  no  public  or 
official  notice  to  that  effect  was  given,  although  rumors  of  a 
draft  preceded  the  publication  of  the  order  several  days. 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  June,  a  letter  was  addressed  to 
the  President  by  the  Governors  of  the  loyal  States,  request- 
ing him  to  take  measures  for  an  immediate  increase  of  the 
army.  In  pursuance  of  this  request,  the  President,  on  the 
first  of  July,  issued  his  third  requisition,  calling  upon  the 
loyal  States  to  furnish  three  hundred  thousand  volunteers. 
In  some  of  the  States  immediate  steps  were  taken  for  re- 
cruiting the  quota  required,  but  in  Pennsylvania  the  vol- 
unteer movements  were  proceeding  very  leisurely  on  the 
twenty-first,  when  the  Governor  issued  his  proclamation 
calling  for  twenty-one  regiments  of  volunteers  in  the  State. 
He  had  in  the  interim  secured  an  order  for  the  acceptance 
of  nine  months,  instead  of  three  years'  volunteers,   and 

*  Anonymous  pamphlet  continued. 

[  470  ] 


EECORDS    OP    FOUR   WARS 

recruits  for  the  old  regiments  for  twelve  months.  Congress, 
at  its  previous  session,  fixed  a  bounty  for  volunteers  of  one 
hundred  dollars,  one-fourth  to  be  paid  at  the  time  of  enlist- 
ment and  the  balance  at  the  close.  It  had  also  sanctioned 
the  payment  of  one  month's  pay  in  advance,  making  an 
enlistment  bounty  of  thirty-eight  dollars.  In  several  States 
the  Governors,  in  order  to  hasten  enlistments,  had  added 
to  this  a  State  bounty  of  fifty  dollars  or  more ;  but  in  issuing 
his  proclamation  Governor  Curtin  announced  that  no  bounty 
would  be  paid  by  the  State.  The  quota  of  Allegheny  county 
by  this  proclamation  was  fixed  at  fifteen  companies  of  nine 
months'  men.  Immediate  measures  were  taken  throughout 
the  State  to  hasten  recruiting,  and  on  July  twenty-fifth,  in 
pursuance  of  previous  notice,  an  uumense  mass  meeting 
was  held  on  the  West  Commons,  in  Allegheny  City.  At 
least  fifteen  thousand  people  were  assembled,  and  the  ut- 
most enthusiasm  prevailed. 

Four  stands  had  been  erected  on  different  portions  of  the 
Common  for  the  convenience  of  the  crowd,  and  at  one 
o'clock  the  meeting  was  organized  at  the  main  stand,  by 
the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  and  the  following  list  of 
officers  announced : 

Stand  No.  1  —  Hon.  Wm.  Wilkins,  president,  assisted  by  a 
great  number  of  vice-presidents;  Robt.  Finney,  J.  R. 
Hunter,  S.  Harper,  E.  A.  Montooth,  Wm.  B.  Negley,  W.  C. 
Moreland,  Thos.  M.  Bayne,  and  H.  E.  Davis,  secretaries. 

Stand  No.  2.  —  Gen.  Wm.  Robinson,  Jr.,  president,  as- 
sisted by  Simon  Drum,  John  Morrison,  C.  T.  Ihmsen,  J. 
M'D.  Crossan,  and  Thos.  M'Kee,  vice-presidents. 

Stand  No.  3.  — Thomas  Bakewell,  Esq.,  president,  assisted 
by  B.  C.  Sawyer,  G.  L.  B.  Fetterman,  John  Birmingham,  J. 
Sampson,  and  B.  A.  Mevay,  vice-presidents. 

German  Stand.  —  G.  G.  Bakofen,  president,  assisted  by  N. 
Voeghtly,  Francis  Felix,  Major  D.  Fickeisen,  Dr.  A.  H. 
Gross,  and  A.  Ho]  stein,  vice-presidents. 

Proceedings  opened  with  prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Howard. 
Hon.  P.  C.  Shannon  then  introduced  Judge  Wilkins,  who 
read  a  stirring  address.  Gov.  Curtin,  who  was  present  on 
the  stand,  followed  with  an  able  but  brief  speech,  at  the  close 
of  which  a  series  of  resolutions  were  read  and  adopted. 

[  471  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

The  resolutions  set  forth  the  duty  of  loyal  men  to  rise 
to  the  support  of  the  Union  in  its  hour  of  peril ;  the  determi- 
nation of  Pennsylvania  never  to  retire  from  the  contest 
until  the  rebellion  was  crushed;  calling  on  the  authorities 
for  an  energetic  employment  of  every  means  in  their  power 
to  re-establish  the  authority  of  the  Constitution;  that  the 
gratitude  of  the  people  of  the  State  was  due  to  Gov.  Curtin 
for  his  labors  in  support  of  the  Government;  that  a  sub- 
scription be  raised  for  a  $50  bounty  to  volunteers ;  and  that 
the  citizens  of  the  county  be  earnestly  requested  to  call 
meetings  for  the  encouragement  of  recruiting.  The  tenth 
resolution,  provided  that  to  raise  the  necessary  funds  for 
paying  the  bounty,  and  assisting  in  preparing  troops  for 
the  field,  the  following  committee  should  be  appointed  to 
collect  and  disburse : 

Messrs.  Thomas  M.  Howe,  Thos.  Bakewell,  James  Park, 
Jr.,  Geo.  W.  Cass,  Isaac  Jones,  B.  F.  Jones,  Wm.  K.  Nimick, 
John  Harper,  Thos.  S.  Blair,  P.  C.  Shannon,  John  H. 
Shoenberger,  and  James  B,  Murray. 

The  adoption  of  the  resolutions  was  followed  by  a  speech 
from  Hon.  W.  F.  Johnston,  the  audience  having  already 
divided  to  the  several  stands.  Hon.  Wilson  M'Candless, 
Judge  of  the  U.  S.  Court ;  Prof.  S.  J.  Wilson,  of  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary;  Rev.  James  Prestly,  Hon.  John 
Covode,  T.  J.  Bigham,  John  H.  Hampton,  Wm.  C.  More- 
land,  Capt.  John  A.  Banks,  of  the  Sixty-third  Regiment; 
Hon.  Robt.  M 'Knight,  J.  R.  Hunter,  and  others  also 
addressed  the  meeting. 

The  impulse  given  to  recruiting  by  this  meeting  was 
quite  marked.      Companies  for  nine  months  and  for  the : 
war  were  immediately  set  on  foot  in  both  cities.      On  thei 
twenty-eighth  an  order  was  issued  revoking  the  permission 
given  Gov.  Curtin  to  recruit  nine  months'  regiments,  on 
the  ground  that  the  time  of  service  was  too  short  to  bei 
effective,   and  that,   as  a   similar  privilege  could  not  be: 
extended  to  all  the  States,  the  discrimination  would  justly 
provoke  complaints.     The  mustering  officer  was  instructed  I 
to  continue  mustering  in  nine  months'  men  until  August 
tenth,  and  on  that  date  the  time  was  extended,  to  permit 
regiments    already    formed    to    recruit    to    the    regular 

[  472  ] 


RECOEDS   OF   FOUR   WARS 

standard,  until  the  twenty-third  inst.  In  the  interval  thus 
allowed  a  sufficient  number  of  companies  were  organized 
in  Allegheny  county  to  fill  its  quota  under  the  first  call.  At 
the  same  time  the  recruiting  of  three  years'  men  was 
rapidly  progressing.  In  Allegheny  City  an  impetus  was 
given  to  the  nine  months'  enlistments  by  the  organization 
of  the  "  Clark  Infantry,"  a  company  under  Rev.  J.  B. 
Clark,  a  clergyman  of  the  Second  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  that  city.  Scores  of  men,  whose  dread  of  the 
irreligious  surroundings  of  the  soldier  had  deterred  them 
from  enlisting,  rushed  to  his  standard,  and  his  company 
was  soon  filled  to  overflowing.  A  second,  third,  and 
fourth  —  one  under  command  of  the  Mayor  of  the  city, 
Simon  Drum,  Esq.  —  were  organized  in  a  few  days,  and  on 
the  date  fixed  by  the  Government  a  regiment  was  organized, 
of  which  Capt.  Clark  was  elected  Colonel.  Three  years' 
companies  were  also  being  organized,  and  under  the 
auspices  of  William  M.  Semple,  of  Allegheny,  the  Semple 
Infantry  was  organized  by  William  H.  Moody,  a  similar 
''  rush  "  resulting  in  the  formation  of  four  companies. 
We  may  here  remark  that  no  man  in  the  community  dis- 
played a  more  genuine  spirit  of  liberality  than  Mr.  Semple, 
who,  in  donations  to  the  companies  bearing  his  name  and 
in  other  forms,  expended  nearly  $3,000  towards  the  forma- 
tion and  equipment  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-ninth 
Regiment.  Edward  J.  Allen,  well  known  as  the  author  of 
the  '*  Oregon  Trail,"  which  appeared  in  the  Daily  Dispatch 
some  years  ago,  also  set  about  the  organization  of  an 
engineer  regiment,  which  was  subsequently  mustered  into 
service  as  infantry. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Regiment  left  for 
Harrisburg  on  the  twentieth  of  August,  and  was  followed 
on  the  succeeding  day  by  the  companies  subsequently 
organized  into  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-sixth.  The 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-ninth  left  September  first,  and 
some  days  after  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  followed 
it.  During  this  period  two  heavy  artillery  companies,  the 
Pittsburgh  Artillery,  Capt.  Young,  and  Staunton  Artillery, 
Capt.  George  W.  Henderson,  were  recruited  and  left  for 
Fort  Delaware,  Delaware  river.     A  battalion  for  the  An- 

[  473  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

derson  Troop  was  recruited  and  forwarded  to  Carlisle,  in 
this  month,  by  Sergeant,  afterwards  Major  Frank  B. 
Ward.  Detachments  were  also  recruited  for  Hampton's, 
Knap's,  Daum's,  and  other  battalions  in  the  field.  These 
regiments  had  been  but  a  few  days  in  the  field  when  the 
rebel  raid  into  Maryland  took  place,  threatening  the  safety 
of  the  Pennsylvania  border.  Fifty  thousand  militia  were 
instantly  called  out  by  the  Governor,  and  in  less  than  a 
week  a  far  larger  number  had  assembled  at  Harrisburg. 
An  immense  war  meeting  was  held  at  the  Court  House  on 
September  sixth,  and  measures  were  adopted  for  a  rapid 
organization  of  the  militia.  Companies  were  hastily  organ- 
ized in  Allegheny  county,  and  on  September  sixteenth 
1,066  men,  principally  from  Allegheny,  left  for  Harrisburg. 
A  regiment  had  been  organized,  of  which  Robert  Galway 
was  Colonel,  James  M.  Cooper,  Lieut.-Colonel,  and  A.  H. 
Gross,  Major.  Companies  continued  to  rush  eastward 
during  the  ensuing  week  from  all  the  western  counties, 
until  nearly  two  regiments  had  left  Allegheny  county  alone. 
Fortunately  their  services  were  not  required,  and  after  a 
rapid  march  toward  the  State  line  and  return  to  Harris- 
burg, the  companies  were  dismissed. 

Permission  having  been  given  by  the  War  Department 
to  recruit  a  cavalry  regiment  and  a  regiment  of  infantry 
in  Allegheny  county,  the  "'  Corcoran  Regiment  "  was  set 
on  foot,  as  announced,  for  service  under  Gen.  Corcoran. 
It  proved  unsuccessful,  however,  and  the  men  recruited 
were  subsequently  added  to  other  organizations;  a  com- 
pany, under  Capt.  Powers,  joining  the  One  Hundred  and 
First  Regiment,  Col.  Morris.  The  Stanton  Cavalry,  Col. 
Schoonmaker,  was  still  at  Camp  Howe  (formed  for  troops 
under  the  Third  Requisition  at  Linden  Grove).  The  men 
had  been  equipped,  and  were  soon  ready  to  march.  A 
regiment  under  Col.  Stockton  also  filled  rapidly. 

On  the  first  of  August  the  long  anticipated  order  for  a 
draft  was  published.  The  State  authorities  had  already 
called  upon  the  County  Commissioners  for  a  statement  of 
the  number  of  militia  in  the  county  subject  to  draft,  but 
on  this  subject  no  accurate  record  had  been  kept,  and  in 
reply  the  commissioners  forwarded  a  statement  compiled 

[  474  ] 


RECORDS    OF   FOUR   WARS 

from  the  report  of  the  County  Assessors,  giving  the  number 
of  persons  liable  to  military  duty  in  the  county  as  12,359. 
Subsequently  the  commissioners  determined  to  order  a 
regular  enrolment  of  the  county,  which  was  accordingly 
made.  There  was  much  discussion  as  to  the  regulations 
which  should  govern  the  enrolment,  but  we  believe  the 
State  laws  were  followed  by  the  assessors,  who  returned 
the  number  of  militia  liable  to  duty. 

At  its  session  of  1861-62,  Congress  had  passed  an  act 
authorizing  the  President  to  order  a  draft  of  the  militia 
of  the  States  for  nine  months'  service. 

On  the  ninth  of  August  the  President  issued  his  instruc- 
tions for  the  draft,  as  directed  by  Act  of  Congress.  These 
instructions  provided  for  places  of  rendezvous  for  drafted 
men,  and  the  enrolment  of  all  able-bodied  citizens  between 
the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty-five.  A  commissioner  was 
to  be  appointed  for  each  county,  and  his  duties  prescribed 
as  follows : 

"  The  enrolling  officers  shall  immediately,  upon  the  filing 
of  the  enrolment  lists,  notify  said  Commissioners  that  said 
lists  have  been  so  filed,  and  the  Commissioners  shall  there- 
upon give  notice  by  handbills  posted  in  each  township  of 
his  county,  of  the  time  and  place  at  which  claims  of  exemp- 
tion will  be  received  and  determined  by  him,  and  shall  fix 
the  time  of  the  enrolment  from  which  the  draft  shall  be 
made,  and  all  persons  claiming  to  be  exempt  from  military 
duty,  shall,  before  the  said  days  fixed  for  the  draft,  make 
proof  of  such  exemption  before  said  Commissioner,  and  if 
found  sufficient,  his  name  shall  be  stricken  from  the  list 
by  a  red  line  drawn  through  it,  leaving  it  still  legible.  The 
Commissioner  shall,  in  like  manner,  strike  from  the  list  the 
names  of  all  persons  now  in  the  military  service  of  the 
United  States  —  all  telegraph  operators  and  contractors 
actually  engaged  on  the  5th  day  of  August,  1862,  engineers 
of  locomotives  on  railroads,  the  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States,  the  officers,  judicial  and  executive,  of  the 
Government  of  the  United  States,  the  members  of  the 
Houses  of  Congress  and  their  respective  officers.  All 
custom  house  officers  and  their  clerks;  all  post  officers  and 
stage  drivers  who  are  employed  in  the  care  and  convey- 

[  475  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

ance  of  the  mails  of  the  post  offices  of  the  United  States; 
all  ferrymen  who  are  employed  at  any  ferry  on  the  post 
roads ;  all  pilots ;  all  mariners  actually  employed  in  the  sea 
service  of  any  citizen  or  merchants  within  the  United 
States;  all  engineers  and  pilots  of  registered  or  licensed 
steamboats  and  steamships,  and  all  persons  exempt  by  the 
laws  of  the  respective  States,  from  military  duty,  on  suffi- 
cient evidence,  or  his  personal  knowledge  that  said  persons 
belong  to  any  of  the  aforesaid  classes,  whether  the  exemp- 
tion is  claimed  by  them  or  not.  Exemption  will  not  be 
made  for  disability  unless  it  be  of  such  prominent  character 
as  to  render  the  person  unfit  for  service  for  a  period  of 
more  than  thirty  days,  to  be  certified  by  a  surgeon  ap- 
pointed by  the  Governor  in  each  county  for  that  purpose. ' ' 

Under  these  instructions  a  second  enrolment  of  the 
county  was  made.  James  L.  Graham,  Esq.,  was  appointed 
Draft  Commissioner,  but  declined  the  position,  and,  at  his 
suggestion,  the  appointment  was  transferred  to  Wm.  B. 
Negley,  Esq.  The  deputy  marshals  appointed  were  the 
assessors  of  the  several  precincts,  who  were  supposed  to 
be  eminently  qualified  for  the  duty  —  a  mistake,  as  it  after- 
ward proved  that  one  man  could  not  perform  thoroughly 
a  duty  so  onerous  —  and  the  enrolment  proceeded  rapidly. 
On  the  twentieth  it  was  announced  that  the  total  enrolment 
of  the  county  was  37,099,  divided  as  follows : 

Pittsburgh,  11,187;  Allegheny,  5,709;  Boroughs,  6,870; 
Townships,  13,333. 

The  apportionment  was  thus  announced: 

Pittsburgh. 

Quota  3,277 

Credit 2,016 


Allegheny. 

Boroughs. 

Townships. 

1,609 

1,941 

3,766 

1,354 

1,752 

3,236 

Deficiency   1,261  255  189  530 


The  total  number  of  men  reported  as  having  enlisted  in 
Pennsylvania  organizations  was  8,392,  to  be  taken  from  a 
quota  of  10,593,  leaving  a  deficiency  of  2,201.  Five  hun- 
dred and  fifty-eight  were  reported  as  having  enlisted  in 
regiments  not  belonging  to  the  State,  and  were  therefore 
not  credited  on  the  quota. 

[  476  ] 


RECORDS    OF    FOUR   WARS 

The  appointment  of  a  Draft  Commissioner  was  followed 
by  the  appointment  of  a  surgeon,  Dr.  A.  C.  Murdoch,  to 
examine  applicants  for  exemption  on  the  ground  of  physi- 
cal inability  to  bear  arms.  A  room  was  assigned  him  in 
the  Court  House,  and  for  several  weeks  his  labors  were 
most  arduous.  Private  examinations  were  made  in  Dr. 
Murdoch's  office,  both  before  and  after  his  office  hours  at 
the  Court  House,  frequently  protracting  his  labors  far 
into  the  night.  For  the  examinations  in  his  private  office 
fees  were  charged,  giving  rise  to  a  great  deal  of  dissatis- 
faction in  the  community  and  suspicions  of  unfair  dealing. 
None  of  the  rumors  were  substantiated  by  direct  charges 
or  a  legal  investigation. 

The  labor  of  preparing  for  the  draft,  making  the  neces- 
sary calculations,  etc.,  was  so  heavy  that  the  clerks  in  the 
Draft  Commissioner's  office  were  kept  busy  night  and  day. 
The  date  fixed  for  drafting  was  twice  postponed,  once  to 
September  first,  and  again  to  Thursday,  October  sixteenth ; 
the  Governor,  on  the  last  occasion,  announcing  that  the 
delay  was  occasioned  by  the  difficulty  of  properly  deciding 
the  claims  for  exemption  presented  by  Philadelphia  and 
other  cities.  In  Allegheny  county  great  dissatisfaction  was 
expressed  in  many  districts  at  the  defective  returns  of  the 
deputy  marshals,  and  permission  was  given  to  amend  these 
returns  up  to  September  first.  After  that  date  the  com- 
missioner refused  to  receive  any  additional  returns,  save 
those  of  "  new  enlistments,"  i.  e.,  those  enlisted  subse- 
quent to  the  returns  of  the  marshals.  These  additions 
required  the  certificate  of  the  mustering  officer  that  the 
parties  were  actually  mustered  into  service. 

A  meeting  held  in  the  Third  Ward,  subsequent  to  the  date 
fixed  by  the  commissioner,  resulted  in  a  return  from  the 
ward,  by  ''  block  committees,"  of  some  three  hundred 
names  in  addition  to  those  reported  by  the  deputies.  These 
names  the  commissioner  declined  receiving,  and  the  matter 
was  referred  to  the  Governor,  who  placed  the  decision 
entirely  at  the  discretion  of  the  commissioner.  Mr.  Negley 
accordingly  revised  the  returns,  and  accepted  one  hundred 
and  thirty-two  names.  In  other  wards  a  large  number  of 
enlistments  were  found  to  have  escaped  the  deputy  mar- 

[  477  ] 


THE   HISTORY    OF    PITTSBURGH 

shals,  but  it  did  not  become  necessary  to  present  them. 
The  deficiency  reported  from  the  first  returns  of  the 
marshals  was  gradually  reduced  by  the  amended  returns, 
until,  on  Monday,  October  thirteenth,  the  announcement 
was  made  that  no  draft  would  be  required  in  Allegheny 
county. 

And  so  the  men  went  to  the  war,  fought  and  died;  some 
returned  and  there  was  much  rejoicing,  but  in  all  this  there 
is  no  word  of  the  part  the  women  played.  The  women  who 
stood  by  and  saw  their  husbands  and  fathers  and  brothers 
and  sons  all  go,  and  then  waited  and  waited  for  their  return 
and  rejoiced  or  else  never  rejoiced.  Almost  at  the  very 
beginning  of  the  war  the  women  of  Pittsburgh  began  active 
work  for  their  soldiers.  This  started  by  their  preparing 
a  lunch  for  a  regiment  that  was  going  through.  It  was 
immediately  seen  by  Mr.  James  Park,  Jr.,  and  Hon.  Thomas 
M.  Howe  that  this  could  be  organized,  and  made  into  regu- 
lar work  for  the  women,  under  an  executive  committee  of 
men,  bound  to  accomplish  great  good.  A  meeting  was  held 
at  the  City  Hall  and  the  following  committee  appointed: 
Thomas  M.  Howe,  chairman;  B.  F.  Jones,  George  Wyman, 
William  Thaw,  and  John  Scott.  The  name  of  the  organiza- 
tion was  the  ' '  Pittsburgh  Subsistence  Committee, ' '  and  the 
regular  duty  of  the  committee  was  to  attend  to  the  sub- 
sisting of  such  companies  as  were  formed  until  they  were 
regularly  mustered  into  the  United  States  service.  These 
first  meals  were  given  in  the  old  Leech  warehouse,  on  the 
corner  of  Penn  and  Wayne  streets,  supplied  with  enough 
tables  to  accommodate  a  regiment  at  a  time.  The  work  of 
the  committee  was  done  by  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the 
town,  who  labored  unceasingly  from  that  day  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  By  March  first,  1865,  they  had  received 
$61,580.60  and  had  disbursed  $54,334.40,  and  in  addition, 
numberless  garments,  immense  stores  of  bedding,  and  all 
the  delicacies  that  could  possibly  be  procured  were  sent  to 
the  army  camp.  Every  squad,  company,  and  regiment  that 
came  through  Pittsburgh  was  entertained  by  these  inde- 
fatigable women,  either  at  the  old  Leech  warehouse  or  later 
at  the  City  Hall,  during  practically  the  whole  four  years  of 

[  478  ] 


SUBSISTENCE  COMMITTEE  AND  PART  OF  CITY  HALL  WHERE 
UPWARDS  OF  FOUR  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  SOLDIERS  WERE 
FURNISHED  A  MEAL  EACH  DURING  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 
A    THOUSAND    COULD    BE    ACCOMMODATED   AT    ONE    TIME. 


RECORDS    OF   FOUR   WARS 

the  war.  Many  of  the  women  of  to-day,  remembering  back, 
marvel  that  they  could  endure  the  work  of  those  days. 
Coffee,  meat,  and  bread  for  as  many  as  five  thousand  men 
in  a  night  was  not  unusual,  and  yet  the  part  of  the  women 
in  war  is  the  part  that  is  never  written.  Perhaps  because 
it  is  too  sorrowful 

The  need  of  immediate  money  was  the  cry  throughout 
the  land.  Money  must  be  had  to  keep  the  men  clothed  and 
from  starving.  In  March,  1864,  it  was  decided  by  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Subsistence  Committee  and  the 
ladies  to  give  an  immense  fair,  hoping  in  this  way  to  lay 
their  hands  on  actual  cash.  This  fair  was  opened  about 
the  first  of  June.  Everything  was  for  sale,  and  all  sorts 
of  contests  were  resorted  to,  and  in  the  end  there  was 
realized  a  total  sum  from  all  sources  of  $363,570.09.  This 
was  indeed  an  immense  sum  to  be  gathered  at  this  time 
from  this  part  of  the  country,  considering  the  heavy  taxes, 
the  fact  that  the  poor  men  had  been  drafted  and  that  the 
rich  men  had  paid  liberal  bounties,  in  fact  that  every  man, 
woman,  and  child  had  practically  contributed  to  their  utter- 
most. Claim  is  made  for  Allegheny  county  that  she  con- 
tributed twenty  thousand  men  to  the  war  wherein  a  million 
died  either  in  action  or  in  the  hospitals  or  prisons.  The 
Pittsburgh  Arsenal,  under  Col.  Symington,  furnished  vast 
stores  of  small  ordnance,  and  the  town  responded  with  joy 
or  grief  as  the  news  came  from  the  battles.  She  buried 
some  of  her  best  sons,  but  there  was  no  cessation  in  the 
many  and  various  branches  of  work  that  was  being  done  to 
help  weld  the  Union,  and  when  the  news  finally  came  of 
Lee's  surrender  at  Appomattox  the  press  of  the  city  seems 
to  have  exhausted  its  adjectives,  and  the  town  blazed  with 
light,  and  the  men  and  women  flocked  into  the  streets,  show- 
ing their  joy,  but  that  great  outburst  was  scarcely  finished 
until  its  awful  reverse  convulsed  their  hearts,  for  Lincoln, 
the  one  man  in  whose  sagacity  and  careful  comprehension 
the  whole  terrible  situation  seemed  to  lie,  had  been  assassi- 
nated, and  there  could  only  follow  some  catastrophe,  and 
the  result  was  the  wretched  reconstruction  period. 

The  Pittsburgh  branch  of  the  Philadelphia  Christian 
Commission  had  also  done  incalculable  good  throughout  the 

[  479  ] 


THE   HISTORY    OF    PITTSBURGH 

war.  It  is  estimated  that  by  July  first,  1865,  this  branch 
had  distributed  $159,361.70  and  three  times  that  amount  in 
supplies.  Owing  to  this  organization  on  the  tenth  of  July, 
1865,  the  new  Soldiers'  Home,  on  Liberty  street,  was 
opened,  and  there  were  immediately  forty-one  orphans 
placed  therein.  The  care  of  the  soldiers'  orphans  later, 
however,  came  to  be  the  particular  care  of  the  State. 

Then  came  the  long,  long  years  without  war,  when  the 
younger  generation  wondered  what  war  really  was  and  if 
it  was  possible  that  it  could  happen  again;  then,  after 
much  noise  in  Congress,  the  war  with  Spain  was  finally 
declared.  Immediately  upon  this  declaration,  the  Four- 
teenth Regiment,  which  had  been  organized  in  1869,  moved 
to  Mt.  Gretna,  where  the  troops  mobilized,  and  about  nine- 
tenths  of  the  members  volunteered  and  were  mustered  into 
the  United  States  Volunteers.  They  were  later  ordered  to 
Fort  Mott,  Philadelphia,  Companies  E  and  F  being  as- 
signed duty  at  Fort  Delaware.  Companies  I  and  K  were 
afterward  stationed  at  Fort  Delaware,  while  E  and  F  were 
returned  to  Fort  Mott.  On  September  third,  1898,  the  com- 
mand was  moved  to  Camp  Meade,  where  it  became  a  part 
of  the  Second  Army  Corps,  having  been  connected  with  the 
department  of  the  east  during  the  duty  at  Fort  Mott  and 
Fort  Delaware.  On  November  sixteenth  the  entire  regi- 
ment was  ordered  to  Somerville,  S.  C,  where  it  remained 
until  February  twenty-eighth,  1899,  when  it  was  mustered 
out  by  order  of  the  War  Department. 

All  then  remaining  of  the  organization  was  the  handful 
of  officers  still  commissioned  in  the  Guard.  During  April, 
1899,  the  regiment  was  reorganized  for  the  State  service 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  August,  when  the  famous  ' '  Fight- 
ing Tenth  "  returned  from  Manila,  the  Fourteenth  acted 
as  an  escore  in  the  memorable  parade,  and  Col.  Glenn, 
being  the  senior  officer,  was  honored  by  being  offered  the 
right  of  line  in  the  city.  Two  weeks  later,  under  com- 
mand of  Col.  Glenn,  three  companies  from  the  Fourteenth, 
four  of  the  Eighteenth,  and  one  of  the  Seventeenth  were 
ordered  to  attend  the  funeral  of  Colonel  Hawkins  at  Wash- 
ington, Pa. 

On  September  sixth,  1899,  Col.  Glenn's  commission  ex- 

[  480  ] 


RECORDS   OF   FOUR   WARS 

pired,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Maj.  William  E.  Thompson. 
LHiring  October,  1902,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Mahanoy 
City,  where  it  was  on  duty  twenty-three  days,  maintaining 
order  during  the  coal  strike  in  Schuylkill  county.  This 
regiment  has  for  its  principal  armory  the  upper  floor  of  the 
old  City  Hall,  Diamond  Square,  Pittsburgh.  These  quar- 
ters have  recently  been  neatly  remodeled,  but  are,  never- 
theless, too  limited  in  space  to  properly  accommodate  so 
large  a  body  of  men.    The  official  roster  is  as  follows : 

Field  and  Staff  Colonel,  W.  E.  Thompson;  lieutenant- 
colonel,  John  H.  Corbett;  major,  William  S.  McKee;  major, 
Franklin  Blackstone;  major  surgeon,  George  L.  Hays;  cap- 
tain and  adjutant.  Ralph  E.  Flinn;  captain  and  quarter- 
master, Murray  G.  Livingston;  captain  and  commissary, 
William  J.  Sheehan ;  captain  and  inspector  of  rifle  practice, 
George  B.  Shields ;  second  lieutenant  and  assistant  surgeon, 
AVilliam  S.  Foster;  first  lieutenant  and  assistant  surgeon, 
Robert  L.  Walker,  Jr.;  lieutenant  and  battalion  adjutant, 
Oliver  0.  Mechlin ;  lieutenant  and  battalion  adjutant,  Alex- 
ander D.  Guy. 

Non-commissioned  Staff  —  Sergeant  major.  Curt  F.  Leid- 
enroth;  battalion  sergeant  major,  Norman  McC.  Sterrett; 
battalion  sergeant  major,  Arthur  Holman;  quartermaster 
sergeant,  William  G.  Ramsey;  commissary  sergeant,  Wil- 
liam E.  Satler;  chief  musician,  Vincent  D.  Nirella;  second 
color  sergeant,  Charles  W.  Campbell;  first  color  sergeant, 
Ross  H.  Corbett;  hospital  steward,  Walter  A.  Monnik. 
Captains  —  Company  A,  A.  V,  Crookston ;  Company  B, 
Thomas  B.  Easton;  Company  D,  Lewis  M.  Baker;  Company 
E,  Charles  C.  McGovern;  Company  F,  Harry  W.  Studt; 
Company  G,  Joseph  A.  Rising;  Company  H,  Hugo  Leiden- 
roth  ;  Company  I,  Howard  B.  Oursler. 

Battery  B  has  its  armory  at  Everett  street,  near  Larimer 
avenue.  This  important  part  of  Pittsburgh's  soldiery  was 
organized  May  22,  1884,  its  first  commander  being  Alfred 
E.  Hunt,  who  died  in  1899  from  the  effects  of  the  campaign 
through  the  malarial  district  of  Porto  Rico.  William  T. 
Wallace  succeeded  him  in  command  of  the  battery,  and  in 
February,  1902,  Capt.  William  T.  Rees  was  elected  to  the 
position. 

31  [  481  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

During  the  Spanish-American  war  this  organization 
served  in  Porto  Rico  and  made  a  creditable  record.  Their 
presence  has  been  valuable  at  riots  in  this  section,  and  they 
have  taken  part  in  a  number  of  Presidential  inaugurations. 
The  present  Staff  of  Battery  B  is : 

Captain,  William  T.  Rees ;  first  lieutenant,  senior,  J.  Mil- 
ton Ryall ;  first  lieutenant,  junior,  Clinton  T.  Bundy ;  second 
lieutenant,  Charles  C.  William;  first  lieutenant,  and  assist- 
ant surgeon,  Harry  P.  Burns ;  second  lieutenant  and  quar- 
termaster, John  S.  Purucker. 

Non-commissioned  Staff  —  First  sergeant,  James  A. 
Gormley;  quartermaster  sergeant,  J.  Lavaille  Stewart; 
stable  and  veterinary  sergeant,  Anthony  J.  Leffler. 

Goldwin  Smith  says  ''  too  much  space  is  given  to  war. 
Too  much  space,  perhaps,  is  given  to  war  in  all  histories. 
AVar  is  still,  unhappily,  of  all  themes  the  most  interesting. ' ' 
And  so  the  record  of  Pittsburgh  in  four  wars  has  been  par- 
tially, not  entirely,  given.  It  has  been  impossible  to  write  a 
complete  record,  because  the  people  who  lived  were  acting, 
not  taking  notes  for  posterity,  and  because  it  is  always 
hard  to  write  a  war  record  from  the  proper  angle  for  a 
local  history.  It  is  merely  the  pouring  in  of  the  money  and 
the  men  that  counts,  and  then,  in  the  end  all  the  wealth  that 
has  been  poured  in  has  not  served  to  make  a  complete 
record  of  the  courage,  bravery  and  patriotism  of  the  men 
of  Allegheny  county. 


[  482  ] 


THE   NEWSPAPERS 


THE    NEWSPAPERS 


The  newspapers  are  the  nerves  of  a  city.  There  is 
nothing  so  important  in  civic  life,  after  the  citizens,  as 
the  newspapers.  They  mean  more  than  the  preachers. 
Their  tone  tells  more  than  the  schools  themselves.  They 
are,  in  fact,  a  matter  of  first  importance. 

The  Pittsburgh  Gazette. 

It  is  not  permitted  to  men  to  penetrate  the  future,  else 
the  venture  of  John  Scull  in  establishing  the  Pittsburgh 
Gazette  would  not  have  been  the  hazard  of  fortune  it  was. 
But  being  allowed  to  know  only  existing  conditions,  he 
proved  himself  a  man  of  fine  perception  and  courage  when 
his  venture  succeeded.  Bom  of  Quaker  parentage,  he  came 
to  Pittsburgh  when  he  was  about  twenty-one,  and  issued,  in 
partnership  with  Joseph  Hall  (quite  likely  a  printer  by 
trade),  the  first  number  of  the  first  newspaper  west  of  the 
Allegheny  mountains,  on  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  July, 
1786. 

The  town  into  which  John  Scull  came  contained  a  fort, 
garrisoned  by  scarcely  more  than  a  corporal's  guard,  and 
enough  houses  to  shelter,  perhaps,  four  hundred  people, 
who  labored  not  only  under  the  strain  that  followed  the 
Revolution,  and  was  felt  throughout  the  country  until  the 
last  State  ratified  the  Constitution,  but  also  with  the  diffi- 
culties of  an  outpost  of  civilization,  subject  to  the  attack  of 
savages.    The  printing  office  opened  on  Water  street,  near 

[  483  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

the  ferry,  and  was  furnished  with  a  Ramage  hand-press, 
hauled  by  wagon  from  Philadelphia.  This  press  was  so 
small  that  it  was  necessary  to  strike  the  paper  off  in  sec- 
tions, eight  pulls  being  required  to  print  four  pages.  Often 
and  for  many  years  the  question  of  paper  taxed  the  in- 
genuity of  the  young  editors.  They  were  compelled  on  one 
occasion,  in  1788,  to  strike  off  some  on  writing  paper,  be- 
cause "  waggons  "  from  the  east  were  detained  owing  to 
the  badness  of  the  roads.  On  Monday,  July  first,  1792,  Mr. 
Scull  sent  to  Major  Isaac  Craig,  Commandant  of  the  fort, 
and  accordingly  in  charge  of  the  public  stores,  this  appeal : 

"  Deae  Sir:  John  Wright's  pack  horses,  by  whom  I 
receive  my  paper  from  Chambersburg,  have  returned  with- 
out bringing  me  any,  owing  to  none  being  furnished.  As  I 
am  entirely  out,  and  do  not  know  what  to  do,  I  take  the 
liberty  of  applying  to  you  for  some  you  have  in  the  public 
stores  (and  of  which  I  have  had  some),  as  a  loan  or  as  an 
exchange  for  the  kind  herewith  inclosed,  and  as  this  kind  is 
smaller  I  will  make  an  allowance,  but  if  you  could  wait  two 
or  three  weeks  I  will  return  you  paper  of  superior  quality 
for  any  purpose,  as  I  have  sent  to  Philadelphia  by  Mr. 
Brackenridge  for  a  large  quantity,  and  John  Wright's  pack 
horses  return  immediately  to  Chambersburgh  and  will 
bring  me  up  some.  As  I  conceive  you  will  not  want  the 
paper  as  soon  as  I  can  replace  it,  I  flatter  myself  you  will 
let  me  have  three  reams  and  as  soon  as  I  receive  mine  it 
shall  be  returned,  but  if  you  choose  to  take  the  inclosed  in 
exchange,  it  shall  be  immediately  sent  you.  If  you  can 
oblige  me  with  the  paper  it  will  do  at  any  time  this  day, 
and  I  shall  consider  myself  under  a  very  particular  obliga- 
tion. 

'  *  I  am,  dear  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  John  Scull." 

Major  Craig  noted,  on  the  seventeenth  of  September. 
1800: 

''Lent  John  Scull  twentv-seven  guires  of  cartridge 
paper." 

[  484  ] 


THE    NEWSPAPERS 

It  is  unwise,  however,  from  this  paper's  borrowings  to 
deduce  an  estimate  of  the  circulation  of  the  little  sheet. 
For  despite  the  complaint  of  the  editor,  a  year  after  the 
launching  of  his  enterprise,  that  he  had  not  received  the 
financial  support  he  felt  his  due,  the  paper  was  highly 
valued  by  the  people  and  regarded  as  a  matter  of  pride. 
Judge  H.  H.  Brackenridge  contributed  many  a  long,  ardent 
and  able  article  on  local  matters. 

John  Scull  was  a  steadfast  Federalist,  and  his  unvarying 
and  undiminished  support  was  always  given  to  that  party. 
He,  of  course,  advocated  the  first  election  of  George  Wash- 
ington as  President  of  the  new  Republic,  therefore,  this 
paper  has  participated  in  the  election  of  every  President  of 
the  United  States.  Throughout  the  V/hiskey  Insurrection, 
John  Scull  held  his  paper  unswervingly  with  the  govern- 
ment, when  the  local  faction  was  strong  enough  to  place  him 
under  arrest  for  his  position;  no  harm  came  to  him,  how- 
ever, and  he  continued  to  support  the  Federalists.  Mr. 
Brackenridge  was  a  violent  Anti-Federalist,  however,  until 
1800,  Mr.  Scull  had  impartially  permitted  him  to  use  the 
columns  of  the  Gazette,  but  in  that  year  impartiality  seemed 
disloyalty,  and  Judge  Brackenridge,  with  John  D.  Israel 
(his  publisher  and  nominal  editor),  set  up  an  opposition 
paper.  The  Tree  of  Liberty,  wherein  the  judge  could,  unre- 
stricted, promulgate  his  political  opinions. 

The  distributing  of  the  Gazette  was  undoubtedly  the 
greatest  trouble  that  beset  the  young  editor  and  publisher. 
There  was  no  established  system  of  carriage  during  the 
early  years  of  the  Gazette,  but  this  problem  was  solved 
graduallj'  with  the  question  of  expeditious  transportation 
throughout  the  country. 

John  Scull  continued  to  edit  the  Gazette  until  1818,  when 
he  retired  in  favor  of  his  son,  John  I.  Scull,  and  Morgan 
Neville.  It  is  difficult  to  estimate  the  service  these  men 
performed  for  the  community,  but  it  can  scarcely  be  over- 
estimated. Enlarging  the  views  of  an  isolated  community, 
and  bringing  them  into  touch,  even  slightly,  with  the  move- 
ment of  the  world,  is  an  incalculable  benefit.  The  early 
Gazette  contained  little  local  news,  and  many  uninteresting 
official  and  judicial  notices  that  mainly  *'  filled  "  the  paper, 

[  485  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

but  there  was  news  from  Washington  and  European  news. 
The  wonderful  doings  of  Napoleon,  two  months  late,  but  the 
great  shuttle  "  Report  "  included  the  little  frontier  town 
in  the  intimate  web  of  its  weaving,  when  John  Scull  first 
printing  the  Gazette, 

From  May  nineteenth,  1818,  to  July  24,  1820,  J.  I.  Scull 
and  Morgan  Neville  published  the  paper,  the  office  being  on 
Fourth  street,  between  Market  and  Wood.  The  publication 
days  were  Tuesday  and  Friday,  until  Thursday,  March  sec- 
ond, 1820,  when  the  paper  was  again  issued  weekly  on 
Thursday,  until  April  tenth,  1820,  when  the  publication  day 
was  changed  to  Monday.  Thursday,  March  twenty-third, 
1820,  the  partnership  between  J.  I.  Scull  and  Morgan 
Neville  was  dissolved.  Mr.  Scull  was  then  living  so  far 
away  from  the  city  that  he  could  not  give  the  paper  proper 
attention.  They  were  succeeded  by  Eichbaum  and  Johnson, 
who  were  practical  printers.  Mr.  Neville  remained  as  editor. 
Eichbaum  and  Johnson,  in  the  following  June,  enlarged  the 
paper  to  twenty  columns,  a  sheet  measuring  twenty-two  by 
twenty-four  inches,  and  the  title  of  the  paper  was  changed 
to  The  Pittsburgh  Gazette  and  Manufacturer  and  Mercantile 
Advertiser.  It  continued  to  be  published  every  Monday  at 
three  dollars  per  year;  Mr.  Neville  still  remained  as  editor, 
and  the  office  was  removed  to  Second  street,  between  Wood 
and  Market. 

David  and  William  McLean  purchased  and  conducted  the 
paper  from  1822  to  September  eighteenth,  1829,  when  it 
came  into  the  hands  of  Neville  B.  Craig.  He  moved  the 
office  to  Fourth  street,  between  Market  and  Wood,  and 
retained  only  the  secondary  title  of  the  paper,  and  enlarged 
it  to  twenty-four  columns.  On  July  thirtieth,  1833,  Mr. 
Craig  issued  the  first  number  of  the  Daily  Pittsburgh 
Gazette.  Two  years  later  Mr.  Mathew  M.  Grant  was  ad- 
mitted as  a  partner;  the  firm  name  became  Craig  and 
Grant,  and  the  paper  was  enlarged  to  twenty-four  columns 
and  published  at  six  dollars  per  year.  On  the  first  of  July, 
1840,  Craig  and  Grant  sold  the  paper  to  Alexander  In- 
graham,  Jr.,  Mr.  Craig  continuing  as  editor.  In  1841,  D. 
N.  White  purchased  the  paper  from  Mr.  Ingraham,  and 
changed  the  time  of  issue  from  afternoon  to  morning.    In 

[  486  ] 


THE   NEWSPAPERS 

the  Spring  of  1845,  Mr,  White  secured  the  co-operation  of 
Mr.  B.  Harris,  the  firm  name  being  changed  to  White  and 
Harris.  Two  years  later  White  and  Harris  sold  the  paper 
to  Erastus  Brooks  (afterwards  of  the  New  York  Express)., 
and  the  firm  name  again  changed,  now  to  Brooks  and  Com- 
pany. On  the  first  of  July,  1848,  Mr.  White  again  purchased 
the  paper  and  continued  as  editor  and  proprietor  until  1859, 
when  he  sold  to  S.  Riddle  and  Company,  the  new  firm  con- 
sisting of  Samuel  Riddle,  Russell  Errett,  James  M.  McCrum, 
and  Daniel  L.  Eaton.  By  an  arrangement  with  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  Commercial  Journal,  on  the  ninth  of  May,  1861, 
that  paper  was  merged  with  the  Gazette,  the  fact  being  an- 
nounced in  the  Gazette  that  ''  both  papers  have  long  ad- 
vocated essentially  the  same  political  principles  and  have 
labored  in  the  same  cause  so  that  their  separate  publication 
was  not  essential  to  any  public  interest,  while  to  advertisers 
the  union  will  be  one  of  great  advantage. ' ' 

In  1864,  "  The  Gazette  Association,"  was  formed  and 
purchased  the  paper  from  S.  Riddle  and  Company ;  and,  on 
May  fourteenth,  1866,  it  was  purchased  from  this  establish- 
ment by  Penniman,  Reed  and  Company,  the  firm  consisting 
of  Messrs.  F.  B.  Penniman,  Josiah  King,  N,  P.  Reed,  and 
Thomas  Houston.  On  November  first,  1870,  Mr.  Penniman 
retired,  and  Mr.  Henry  M.  Long  was  admitted  and  the  firm 
name  again  changed,  now  to  King,  Reed  and  Company. 
On  July  first,  1872,  Mr.  Long  retired  and  George  W.  Reed 
and  D.  L.  Fleming  purchased  his  interest.  Mr.  Houston 
died  in  1875,  and  Mr.  Fleming,  in  1876,  and  their  interests 
were  purchased  by  the  surviving  partners.  In  1882,  Mr. 
King  died,  and  his  interest  was  purchased  by  the  remaining 
partners,  when  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Nelson  P. 
Reed  and  Company,  Mr.  J.  P.  Reed  being  taken  into  the 
firm.  April  first,  Mr.  Frank  W.  Higgins  was  admitted  to 
the  firm;  within  a  short  time,  however,  he  died  and  the 
Reeds  bought  his  interest.  In  1877  the  Reeds  bought  the 
Commercial,  which  had  been  started  in  1864  by  C.  D.  Brig- 
ham.  The  consolidation  again  changed  the  title  of  the 
paper,  which  now  became  the  Commercial-Gazette.  On  the 
death  of  Mr.  Nelson  P.  Reed,  Alfred  Reed,  his  nephew  and 
son-in-law,  held  the  controlling  interest  and  became  editor 

[  487  ] 


THE   HISTORY    OF    PITTSBURGH 

and  manager.  The  first  Sunday  Gazette  was  issued  Novem- 
ber tenth,  1901,  and  consisted  of  six  sections,  containing 
forty-four  pages.  On  the  first  of  June,  1900,  Messrs.  George 
and  Henry  Oliver  purchased  the  Commercial-Gazette. 
Their  ownership  marked  another  epoch.  They  posted  the 
town  with  the  motto,  ' '  Watch  the  Old  Lady  Grow  Young. ' ' 
(The  Commercial-Gazette  had  been  referred  to  by  her  con- 
freres for  some  time  as  the  ''  Old  Lady.")  They  have 
made  good  their  statement.  Later  they  purchased  the 
Chronicle-Telegraph,  and  while  it  continues  a  separate  ex- 
istence under  its  own  name  and  management,  it  is  one  of  the 
Oliver  papers.  Their  latest  acquisition  is  the  Times,  which 
they  purchased  May  first,  1906.  It  has  been  merged  with 
the  Gazette,  which  is  now  issued  as  the  Gazette-Times. 


The  Pittsburgh  Times. 

The  Pittsburgh  Times  was  first  issued  January  twelfth, 
1831,  as  a  weekly,  by  Mr.  McKee.  Subsequently,  by  Jaynes 
and  O'Hara,  publishers,  with  Alfred  Sutton  as  editor.  In 
1837,  it  became  a  daily,  with  a  weekly  edition,  with  Alex- 
ander Jaynes  as  editor.  Its  continued  existence  was  varied. 
In  1880,  Robert  Nevin  became  editor,  and  it  was  issued  as 
a  daily  penny  paper.  That  same  year  C.  L.  Magee  and  his 
company  took  it  over,  and  it  was  owned  by  him,  or  his 
estate,  until  the  Oliver  purchase. 

The  Pittsburgh  Post. 

The  beginning  of  The  Post  occurred  as  far  back  as  the 
year  1804,  when  Ephraim  Pentland  began  the  publication  of 
the  first  Democratic  paper  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  under 
the  name  of  the  Commonivealth.  Thomas  Jefferson,  the 
great  leader  of  Democracy,  was  then  President,  and  the 
Commonivealth  was  an  ardent  supporter  of  his  administra- 
tion. Some  seven  years  later,  James  C.  Gilleland  commenced 
the  publication  of  the  Mercury,  which  shortly  absorbed  the 
Commonivealth.  In  1824,  John  McFarland  established  the 
Allegheny  Democrat,  and  in  1831,  William  B.  McConway 

[  488  J 


THE    NEWSPAPERS 

launclied  the  American  Manufacturer.  In  1841,  the  Mer- 
cury and  the  Allegheny  Democrat  were  consolidated,  taking 
the  title  of  the  Mercury  and  Allegheny  Democrat. 

In  this  year  James  P.  Barr,  subsequently  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  The  Post,  became  an  apprentice  to  the  printing 
trade,  in  the  office  of  the  American  Manufacturer.  In  1842 
the  Mercury  and  Allegheny  Democrat  absorbed  the  Ameri- 
can Manufacturer.  Bigler,  Sargent  &  Bigler  were  the  pro- 
prietors, who  were  succeeded  by  Lecky  Harper  and  John 
Layton.  Harper  and  Layton  sold  to  Gilmore  and  Mont- 
gomery, who  in  turn  sold  to  AVilliam  H.  Smith  and  Thomas 
Phillips.  On  September  tenth,  1842,  Smith  &  Phillips  issued 
the  initial  edition  of  The  Daily  Post  from  the  office  of  the 
Mercury  and  Manufacturer,  which  was  situated  at  Fifth 
avenue  and  Wood  street,  where  the  First  National  bank  now 
stands.  At  this  time  Pittsburgh  had  a  population  of  about 
22,000  and  Allegheny  about  10,000.  The  Post  was  printed 
on  a  Washington  hand-press,  from  which  about  125  copies 
per  hour  were  issued.  The  birthplace  of  The  Post  was  the 
celebrated  old  landmark  known  as  the  Mansion  House, 
where  General  Lafayette  stopped  during  his  visit  to  Pitts- 
burgh. It  was  a  stately  old-fashioned  brick,  four  stories 
high,  which,  after  being  abandoned  as  a  hotel,  was  trans- 
formed into  a  newspaper  office. 

The  Post  remained  in  this  building  until  1870,  when  it 
removed  to  the  structure  then  standing  at  Wood  street  and 
Virgin  alley.  Here  it  remained  until  1886,  when  it  tem- 
porarily removed  across  the  street,  while  a  new  building 
was  being  erected  for  it.  In  September,  of  that  year,  the 
new  building  was  completed  and  occupied.  In  the  summer 
of  1886,  The  Post  was  incorporated  as  the  Post  Printing 
and  Publishing  Company,  with  James  P.  Barr  as  president. 
Mr.  Barr  had  become  editor  and  proprietor  of  The  Post,  on 
May  first,  1857.  In  1863  he  was  elected  surveyor-g:eneral  of 
Pennsylvania.  In  1866  he  entered  into  partnership  with 
Edwin  A.  Myers,  William  A.  Schoyer,  and  J.  S.  Lare.  Mr. 
Myers  had  been  associated  with  Mr.  Barr  in  the  job  printing 
business  since  1855.  On  September  fourteenth,  1886,  Mr. 
Barr  died,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Albert  J.  Barr. 

[  489  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

William  Schoyer  retired  from  tlie  business  management  on 
February  first,  1890.  Edwin  A.  Myers  died  November  twen- 
ty-second, 1895,  after  forty  years  of  faithful  service  on  the 
paper.  In  the  Spring  of  1892,  The  Post  removed  to  the 
building  on  Fifth  avenue,  between  Smithfield  and  Wood 
streets,  where  it  remained  until  early  in  1904,  when  it  was 
transferred  to  its  present  large  and  commodious  quarters, 
at  the  junction  of  Wood  street  and  Liberty  avenue.  Mean- 
while, on  February  fourteenth,  1897,  the  plant  of  The  Post 
was  visited  by  a  destructive  fire,  which  rendered  it  useless 
for  three  months,  during  which  the  paper  was  issued  from 
the  Leader  office.  Only  one  person  is  living  to-day,  who 
helped  to  get  out  the  first  issue  of  The  Daily  Post,  and  that 
is  George  M.  Brisbin,  now  of  Clearfield  county. 

The  Post  from  its  inception  has  always  been  distinguished 
for  its  enterprise.  When  the  telegraph  line  from  Phila- 
delphia was  completed,  in  1847,  it  published  a  column  of 
dispatches  each  morning  under  the  heading,  *  ^  Received  by 
Lightning,  Printed  by  Steam."  The  old-fashioned  hand- 
press  had  by  this  time  been  laid  aside,  and  the  latest  im- 
provement in  this  and  other  lines  installed.  The  Post,  in 
May,  1896,  was  the  first  paper  in  Pennsylvania  to  establish 
a  perfect  special  cable  and  wire  service.  On  November 
fourth,  1896,  The  Post  published  156,660  copies,  the  largest 
number  issued  by  any  Pennsylvania  paper  outside  of  Phila- 
delphia. On  May  first,  1898,  in  its  Sunday  edition,  it  was 
the  only  paper  in  the  United  States  to  publish  the  news  of 
Dewey's  great  victory,  in  Manila  bay,  beating  all  its  co- 
temporaries  by  twenty-four  hours. 

The  Post  was  the  first  Pittsburgh  newspaper  to  run  spe- 
cial trains  to  deliver  its  edition  to  parts  of  the  country  not 
reached  by  regular  trains.  On  several  occasions  it  has  en- 
gaged special  trains  to  collect  news,  notably  at  the  time  of 
the  capture  of  the  Biddle  brothers,  in  Butler  county ;  and  at 
the  time  of  the  Dawson  wreck,  on  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio. 

The  Sunday  Post  was  started  in  September,  1892,  and 
has  been  from  the  first  a  great  success. 

The  last  success  of  the  Post  is  the  evening  edition,  called 
the  Sun,  which  was  first  issued  March  first,  1906. 

[  490  ] 


THE    NEWSPAPEES 


The  Pittsburgh  Dispatch, 


The  Dispatch,  one  of  Pittsburgh's  representative  papers, 
was  established  February  eighth,  1846,  by  the  late  Col. 
J.  H.  Poster.  It  was  the  first  penny  paper  published  west 
of  the  mountains.  It  was  then  a  small  sheet,  containing 
less  matter  than  a  single  sheet  of  its  present  form,  but 
through  vigor  and  effort,  and  because  it  devoted  its  columns 
mainly  to  local  report,  it  bounded  at  once  into  public  favor, 
so  that,  within  a  year  after  its  establishment,  it  had  attained 
a  large  circulation. 

In  1849  the  late  Mr.  Reece  C.  Fleeson  bought  an  interest 
in  the  paper,  and  under  the  joint  management  of  Col. 
Foster  and  himself,  it  was  conducted  with  marked  success, 
until  the  death  of  Mr.  Fleeson,  in  1863,  dissolved  their 
partnership,  and  left  Col.  Foster  sole  proprietor,  until 
Daniel  O'Neill  and  Alexander  W.  Rook,  in  February,  1865, 
bought  one-half  the  establishment. 

The  first  step  of  the  new  partners  on  taking  charge  was 
to  enlarge  the  paper,  which  was  then  half  its  present  size. 
It  was  a  bold  move,  but,  contrary  to  the  predictions  of 
many  of  its  friends,  it  proved  a  great  success;  and  in  the 
two  years  following,  enlargements  were  necessitated  by  the 
growth  of  circulation  and  advertising  patronage. 

In  1867  Col.  Foster  died,  and  his  interest  in  the  paper  was 
purchased  by  O'Neill  and  Rook.  The  management  of  this 
firm  strengthened  the  characteristics,  whose  full  develop- 
ments have  created  the  fame,  prosperity,  and  influence  of 
the  Dispatch. 

The  O'Neill  and  Rook  partnership  was  broken  by  the 
death  of  Daniel  0  'Neill,  on  January  thirty-first,  1877,  after 
twenty-seven  years  of  connection  with  the  paper.  Mr,  A. 
W.  Rook,  under  the  articles  of  copartnership,  purchased  the 
interest  of  his  late  partner.  But  within  the  same  year  he 
sold  an  interest  to  Eugene  M.  O'Neill,  the  brother  of  the 
late  publisher.  Mr.  Eugene  M.  O'Neill  had  previously 
been  active  in  the  editorial  work,  and  at  this  time  assumed 
the  editorial  direction,  which  he  continued  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century,  and  did  so  much  toward  its  subsequent  pro- 
gression in  character  and  influence.    A.  W.  Rook  died  Au^ 

[  491  ] 


THE   HISTOEY    OF    PITTSBURGH 

gnst  fourteenth,  1880,  and  at  the  close  of  that  year  a  re- 
organization took  place  in  the  details  of  the  management 
The  firm  name  was  changed  to  the  Dispatch  Publishing 
Company;  E.  M.  O'Neill  continued  at  its  head.  C.  N. 
Shaw,  managing  editor ;  Ormsby  Phillips  and  E.  W.  Light- 
ner,  associate  editors,  acquired  interests  in  the  firm. 
The  personnel  of  this  organization  was  not  very  lasting,  as 
it  was  changed  by  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Lightner  in  1883, 
the  ill-health  of  Mr.  Shaw,  and  the  death  of  Mr.  Phillips 
shortly  after.  But,  while  it  lasted,  it  was  forceful  in  the 
development  and  progress  of  the  paper.  It  took  the  lead 
in  discarding  the  old  quarto  form  for  the  eight  paged  sheet. 
It  was  a  pioneer  in  the  enlargement  of  expenditure  for 
special  telegrams  and  news  features  to  a  degree  that  a  few 
years  earlier  would  have  been  deemed  ruinous.  Its  inde- 
pendent tendencies  attained  their  full  development  in  1882, 
when  it  joined  the  Stewart  revolt  against  the  corruption  of 
the  State  machine,  in  the  campaign  that  resulted  in  the  first 
election  of  Pattison.  Since  that  time  the  Dispatch  has 
always  disavowed  the  character  of  a  party  organ.  It  is  in 
sympathy  with  Republican  doctrines  on  the  old  war  issues 
and  the  later  principles  of  tariff  and  protection.  But  it 
has  never  recognized  any  duty  to  conceal  the  defects  of 
''  party,"  and  has  always  been  at  liberty  to  support  other 
parties  when  their  candidates  or  measures  seemed 
preferable. 

Various  changes  in  the  executive  management  of  the 
paper  succeeded  in  the  eighties  and  nineties ;  but  under  the 
presiding  control  of  Mr.  E.  M.  O'Neill  the  character  and 
success  of  the  paper  were  strengthened  and  maintained. 

On  September  twenty-fourth,  1883,  the  first  number  of  the 
Sunday  edition  of  the  Dispatch  was  issued.  Before  that 
the  Sunday  papers  of  Pittsburgh  had  been  in  a  class  by 
themselves,  presenting  features  that  tended  to  strengthen 
the  prejudice  against  the  publication  of  newspapers  on  that 
day.  The  purpose  of  the  Dispatch  was  to  prove  that  the 
Sunday  newspaper  could  be  given  a  high  character,  and  by 
reason  of  the  higher  price  and  greater  leisure  of  the 
readers,  could  furnish  enlarged  news  features  and  a  wider 
variety  of  reading  matter  than  was  possible  to  morning 

[  492  ] 


THE    NEWSPAPERS 

newspapers  on  week  days.  Its  success  in  that  direction 
was  instantaneous.  The  first  Sunday  Dispatch  was  so 
clearly  superior  to  anything  Pittsburgh  had  ever  enjoyed 
in  that  line  that  its  circulation  immediately  exceeded  former 
records. 

The  Dispatch  Publishing  Company  was  organized  as  a 
corporation  on  June  eleventh,  1888,  Mr.  E.  M.  O'Neill  being 
president,  Mr.  Bakewell  Phillips,  treasurer,  and  Mr.  C.  A. 
Eook,  secretary.  Mr.  0  'Neill  continued  to  direct  the  course 
of  the  paper  with  results  that  are  familiar  to  the  public 
of  the  present  day  until  1902,  when,  after  twenty-five  years 
of  control  and  over  a  third  of  a  century's  work  as  a 
journalist,  he  carried  out,  much  to  the  regret  of  his  as- 
sociates, a  long  entertained  determination  to  retire  from 
active  work,  retaining  an  interest  in  the  paper.  Mr.  C  A. 
Rook  acquired,  by  purchase,  control,  and  assumed  the 
direction  of  the  paper  as  president  and  editor-in-chief  of 
The  Dispatch  Publishing  Company,  Mr.  E.  M.  0  'Neill,  vice- 
president,  and  Mr.  F.  O'Neill  became  treasurer. 

The  Dispatch,  under  its  present  management,  aims  to 
continue  and  perfect  the  policy  by  which  it  has  so  long 
lived. 

The  Pittsburgh  Leader. 

The  Sunday  Leader  was  founded  by  John  W.  Pittock  in 
December,  1864.  This  man's  rise  and  career  are  one  of 
the  romances  of  journalism  in  Pittsburgh.  He  began  as 
a  newsboy  and  died  the  owner  of  an  important  journal, 
always  gathering  about  him  the  newsboys  whom  he  knew 
and  understood  so  well. 

In  1870  John  W.  Pittock,  Col.  John  I.  Nevin,  R.  P. 
Nevin,  and  Edward  H.  Nevin  began  issuing  the  Evening 
Leader,  on  the  eleventh  of  October,  of  which  they  were  the 
proprietors.  Mr.  Pittock  died  in  1880,  and  in  1882  a  cor- 
poration was  formed  under  the  title  of  ''  The  Leader  Pub- 
lishing Company,"  of  which  Col.  John  I.  Nevin  was  the 
head,  until  his  death  in  1884.  He  was  succeeded  by  Theo- 
dore W.  Nevin,  as  president,  and  Joseph  T.  Nevin,  as 
secretary  and  treasurer,  which  management  has  continued 

[  493  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

•until  the  last  few  months,  when  The  Leader  Publishing 
Company  was  purchased  by  the  present  management. 

The  Leader,  from  its  beginning,  has  been  extremely 
independent  in  its  character.  It  has  backed  at  all  times 
the  man  in  whom  it  believed  without  regard  to  party.  It 
has  railed  unceasingly  at  whatever  it  thought  to  be  wrong, 
and  has  been  of  undoubted  service  to  the  community.  The 
present  circulation,  perhaps,  exceeds  that  of  any  other  paper 
in  the  city. 

The  Pittsburgh  Chronicle. 

J.  Heron  Foster  and  W.  H.  Whitney  took  over  from 
R.  G.  Berford,  on  September  eighth,  1841,  the  paper  which 
Mr.  Berford  had  been  issuing  weekly  since  May.  Mr. 
Foster  and  Mr.  Whitney,  acting  as  their  own  editors,  com- 
menced a  daily  issuance  of  this  paper.  The  firm  changed 
again  in  1843  to  Whitney,  Dumars  and  Wright.  In  1846 
Mr.  Wright  disposed  of  his  interest,  one-third,  to  James 
Dumars  for  $2,000.  The  following  year  the  paper  changed 
hands  and  became  the  property  of  Whitney  and  Dunn. 
In  1851  another  change  placed  the  paper  in  the  hands  of 
Messrs.  Barr  and  MacDonald.  In  1854  the  paper  was  the 
property  of  the  Kennedy  Brothers,  and  in  1856  Mr.  Charles 
McKnight  became  the  owner,  and  so  continued  until  1863 
when  Mr.  Joseph  G.  Siebeneck  became  his  partner.  Mr. 
McKnight,  however,  retired  the  following  year,  and  the 
partnership  of  Siebeneck  and  Collins  was  formed.  In 
1874  Mr.  Collins  retired  and  Mr.  Siebeneck  became  the  sole 
proprietor. 

The  paper  throughout  its  career  was  designed  as  a 
family  journal,  and  was  Republican  on  general  principles. 

In  1884  the  Chronicle  was  merged  with  the  Evening 
Telegraph  under  the  title,  Chronicle-Telegraph. 

The  Evening  Telegraph. 

The  Evening  Telegraph  was  a  sheet  which  came  to  life 
on  April  sixteenth,  1873.  H.  B.  Swoope  was  the  first  presi- 
dent, John  C.  Harper  the  managing  editor,  with  Thomas 

[  494  ] 


THE    NEWSPAPERS 

McConnell,  Jr.,  business  manager.  It  was  also  strongly 
Eepublican  in  its  inclinations.  It  is  rather  surprising  to 
find  that  it  refused,  in  that  early  time,  to  admit  to  its 
columns  advertisements  of  lotteries  or  quack  medicines. 

As  these  two  papers,  the  Chronicle  and  the  Evening  Tele- 
graph, covered  practically  the  same  field  their  affiliation 
was  accomplished  without  the  renunciation  of  its  principles 
by  either  paper. 

The  Chronicle-Telegraph  was  purchased,  as  already 
mentioned,  by  the  Messrs.  Oliver,  but  continues  its  indi- 
vidual existence. 

The  Pittsburgh  Press. 

The  Pittsburgh  Press  (daily  and  Sunday),  which  is  noted 
in  Pittsburgh  journalism  as  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  one- 
cent  field,  now  issues,  as  a  rule,  from  twenty  to  thirty-two 
eight-column  pages  every  evening,  and  sixty-four  pages  on 
Sunday.  The  Press  was  founded  in  1883  by  Col.  Thomas 
M.  Bayne,  at  that  time  a  member  of  Congress  from  the 
Allegheny  district;  with  him  were  associated  John  S. 
Ritenour  and  others.  An  important  departure  in  the 
paper  was  its  low  rate  for  small  "  want  "  advertisements, 
particularly  those  coming  from  people  in  need  of  employ- 
ment; this  greatly  increased  its  circulation.  Under  Col. 
Bayne 's  successors  this  policy  of  getting  the  paper  as 
close  as  possible  to  the  people's  interests  has  been  am- 
plified rather  than  curtailed.  This  management  retired 
before  1890  and  was  succeeded  by  T.  J.  Keenan,  Jr.,  George 
W.  Wardman,  and  Charles  W.  Houston,  who  later  dis- 
posed of  their  entire  holdings  to  Oliver  S.  Hershman, 
formerly  publisher  of  the  Chronicle-Telegraph.  The 
present  organization  is  as  follows:  Oliver  S.  Hershman, 
president  and  general  manager ;  H.  C.  Milholland,  business 
and  advertising  manager;  0.  A.  Williams,  secretary;  A.  H. 
Beitch,  managing  editor;  Frank  C.  Harper,  writing  editor. 

The  Pittsburgh  Bulletin. 

The  Pittsburgh  Bulletin  was  established  in  1876,  and  lays 
claim  to   the  distinction  of  being  the   oldest  illustrated 

[  495  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

society  paper  in  Western  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Black  himself 
published  and  edited  the  Bulletin  for  years,  but  when 
the  paper  had  grown  to  such  an  extent  as  to  make  the  duties 
really  heavy  he  gave  over  the  editorship  to  Mr.  George 
Frederick  Muller.  Mr.  Muller  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  David 
Lowry  and  Mr.  John  Ritenour.  However,  in  1902,  Mrs. 
H.  B.  Birch,  who  for  years  had  been  acting  as  the  society, 
art  and  music  editor,  became  managing  editor.  The  paper 
is  unique,  in  a  way,  as  a  society  journal,  which  does  not 
monger  scandal.  It  has  reached  a  circulation  of  seven  thou- 
sand and  continues  to  grow. 

The  Pittsburgh  Index. 

Pittsburgh  boasts  a  second  society  chronicle,  which  may 
claim  to  be  the  same  clean  sheet  for  all  local  interest  that 
the  Bulletin  is.  Mr.  Walter  S.  Lobingier  first  issued  the 
small  four-paged  paper,  February  twenty-sixth,  1897.  It 
flourished  from  the  first,  and  at  the  end  of  about  three 
years  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Joseph  M.  Paull,  and  so  rapid 
has  been  the  growth  of  the  Index  that  it  has  been  necessary 
to  change  offices  from  the  East  End  into  the  business  section 
of  the  city.  The  Index  has  made  a  specialty  of  its  illustra- 
tions, and  is  edited  in  a  thoroughly  attractive  manner. 

The  Pittsburgh  Catholic  and  the  Pittsburgh  Observer 
are  the  well  edited  papers  of  the  Roman  Catholics.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  local,  their  foreign  news  service  is  very  fine. 

There  is  a  long  story,  of  the  newspapers  of  Pittsburgh,  un- 
told. The  papers  that  were  started  by  some  young  man  or 
young  men  full  of  hope,  either  to  make  fortunes  or  to  re- 
form the  world.  Some  of  these  are  the  papers  that  have 
come  and  gone.  They  have  been  listed  chronologically,  be- 
tween 1801  and  1850,  by  a  contributor  to  the  centennial  num- 
ber of  the  Commercial-Gazette.  This  list  contains,  as  well, 
a  number  of  journals  that  have  lived  a  long  and  vigorous 
life  and  are  flourishing  to-day: 

1801.  The  Tree  of  Liberty,  August  4;  weekly.  John 
Israel,  publisher.  In  1805  (December),  it  was  published  by 
Walter  Forward,  for  the  proprietors. 

[  496  ] 


THE    NEWSPAPERS 

1812.  The  Pioneer,  February;  monthly.  Rev.  David 
Graham,  editor.    Printed  by  S.  Engles  &  Co. 

1813.  The  Western  Gleaner,  or  Repository  for  Arts, 
Sciences  and  Literature,  December;  monthly. 

1814.  The  Weekly  Recorder,  July  5.  Originally  printed 
in  Chillicothe,  0.,  by  Rev.  John  Andrews.  Removed  to 
Pittsburgh,  February,  1822,  and  name  changed  to  Pitts- 
burgh Recorder.  January  tenth,  1828,  it  absorbed  the 
Spectator;  January  fifteenth,  1829,  the  Christian  Herald, 
Rev.  S.  C.  Jennings;  1833,  Pittsburgh  Christian  Herald, 
Rev,  J.  D.  Baird;  1838,  the  Presbyterian  Advocate,  Rev. 
William  Annan ;  November  seventeenth,  1855,  Presbyterian 
Banner  and  Advocate,  Rev.  D.  McKinney,  D.  D. ;  March 
tenth,  1860,  changed  to  Presbyterian  Banner.  February 
third,  1864,  it  passed  into  the  ownership  of  Rev.  Dr.  James 
Allison  and  R.  Patterson.  This  is  the  oldest  religious  paper 
in  the  United  States. 

1820.  The  Statesman.  In  1826  it  is  spoken  of  in  Jones' 
Directory  as  having  passed  through  the  hands  of  numerous 
owners,  and  as  being  at  that  date  conducted  by  Andrews  & 
Waugh,  and  "  in  a  more  flourishing  condition  than  it  has 
been  for  many  years,  owing  to  the  late  improvement  of  its 
appearance  and  the  addition  to  the  editorial  department." 
In  1837  it  was  published  as  the  Pennsylvania  Advocate  and 
Statesman,  William  D.  Wilson,  editor;  daily,  weekly  and 
tri-weekly.  In  1839  it  was  published  at  the  corner  of  Wood 
and  Market  streets ;  Robert  M.  Riddle,  editor. 

1826.  The  Western  Journal,  November  twelfth.  Henry 
C.  Matthews  (Whig). 

1827.  The  Allegheny  Democrat,  weekly.  John  McFar- 
land.  In  1829,  by  Leonard  S.  Johns.  In  1837,  Allegheny 
Democrat  and  Workingman's  Advocate,  William  F.  Stew- 
art, editor.    In  1841,  united  with  the  Mercury. 

1828.  The  Hesperus.  N.  Ruggles  Smith;  a  monthly  lit- 
erary periodical. 

1829.  The  Independent  Republican.  August  twentieth. 
Robert  Fee,  publisher. 

1832.  The  Advocate,  weekly.    A.  W.  Marks  and  Wilson 
(Whig).    Subsequently  published  by  George  Parkin  as  the 
Advocate  and  Emporium  and  the  Daily  Advocate  and  Ad- 
32  [  497  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

vertiser.    Mr.  Parkin  sold  to  Judge  Baird,  from  whom  it 
was  purchased  by  Robert  M.  Riddle;  absorbed  by  Gazette. 

1833.  The  Western  Emporium,  weekly.  Geo.  Parkin 
(Whig).    This  was  the  first  paper  published  in  Allegheny. 

1833.  The  Saturday  Evening  Visitor,  July  first;  weekly. 
Ephraim  Lloyd,  proprietor;  N.  R.  Smith,  editor.  1835, 
Lloyd  &  Brewster.  1836,  E.  Lloyd  &  Co.  1837,  Brewster, 
Newton  &  Spencer.  1837,  Alex.  Jaynes,  and  Jaynes  & 
Fisher.  1838,  E.  Burke  Fisher  &  Co.  1839,  J.  W.  Biddle. 
(Literary.)  Absorbed  by  the  Daily  American. 
-  1833.  Pittsburgh  Conference  Journal.  Edited  first  by  Rev. 
Charles  Elliott,  who  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Wm.  Hunter 
and  Rev.  Charles  Cooke.  In  1841  it  had  been  changed  to 
the  Christian  Advocate,  and  has  since  been  published  under 
the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

1836.  The  Christian  Witness,  January  sixteenth.  Rev. 
Samuel  William,  editor.  In  1839  edited  by  William  H.  Bur- 
leigh, weekly  (anti-slavery). 

1839.  The  Commercial  Bulletin  and  A'inericcm  Manu- 
facturer, weekly.  Phillips,  McDonald,  and  Conway  &  Phil- 
lips. In  1841  it  was  published  by  Richard  Phillips.  In  1847, 
edited  and  published  by  Lecky  Harper. 

1839.  The  Pittsburgher,  daily.  William  Jack  and  Wil- 
liam McElroy  (Democrat). 

1839.  The  Daily  American.  James  W.  Biddle  (Whig). 
This  was  an  afternoon  paper,  and  was  the  successor  of  the 
Saturday  Evening  Visitor. 

1839.  Freiheit  's  Freund,  German  weekly.  Victor  Scriba, 
Allegheny. 

1839.  Harris'  Intelligencer,  weekly.  Isaac  Harris,  pro- 
prietor and  publisher. 

1839.  The  Pittsburgh  Entertainer,  German  weekly.  Vic- 
tor Scriba. 

1839.  The  Western  Recorder.  This  paper,  which  subse- 
quently became  the  Methodist  Recorder,  resulted  from  the 
action  of  the  Ohio  and  Pittsburgh  Conferences  of  the  Meth- 
odist Protestant  3hurches  in  favor  of  a  Western  church 
paper,  and  Cornelius  Springer  was  engaged  to  establish 
and  conduct  the  paper.  It  was  first  published  at  Meadow 
Farm,  Muskingum  county,   O.,   July,  1839,  Mr.   Springer 

[  498  ] 


THE    NEWSPAPERS 

being  pecuniarily  responsible,  the  Conferences  pledging 
their  support.  In  1845,  Mr.  Springer  chose  his  own  suc- 
cessor, and  transferred  the  paper  to  the  charge  of  Ancel  H. 
Bassett,  and  for  ten  years  he  conducted  it,  still  as  an  in- 
dividual enterprise.  In  1855  it  was  transferred  to  the 
Church,  and  removed  to  Springfield,  0.  Mr.  Bassett  was 
succeeded  as  editor  by  Rev.  Dr.  George  Brown,  Dr.  D.  B. 
Dorsey,  Dr.  John  Scott,  and  Dr.  Alexander  Clark.  Dr. 
Clark  died  in  1859,  and  Dr.  Scott,  the  present  editor,  suc- 
ceeded him.  The  name  of  the  paper  was  twice  changed, 
first  to  Western  Methodist  Protestant,  and  then  in  1866,  to 
Methodist  Recorder.  The  paper  was  removed  to  Pitts- 
burgh, in  1871,  the  first  number  issued  here  bearing  date 
November  fifteenth,  1871.  It  is  claimed  that  the  Methodist 
Recorder  should  date  back  to  1830,  the  year  when  the 
Methodist  Correspondent  was  established.  It  was  a  semi- 
monthly, printed  at  Cincinnati,  and  was  edited  by  Mr. 
Springer  up  until  the  Fall  of  1836,  when  it  was  discontinued. 
By  reason  of  the  break  of  a  little  less  than  three  years 
between  the  discontinuance  of  this  publication  and  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Western  Recorder,  the  starting  point  of  the 
Methodist  Recorder  is  1839. 

1839.  The  Literary  Examiner  and  Western  Monthly  Re- 
vieiu.    E.  Burk'Fishef. 

1839.  Sibbett's  Western  Review  and  Counterfeit  List.  E. 
Sibbett  &  Co. ;  monthly. 

1839.  Sabbath  School  Assistant,  monthly.  Rev.  William 
Hunter,  editor. 

1840.  The  Express,  daily.  James  and  John  B.  Kennedy 
(Whig).    This  was  a  campaign  paper. 

1841.  The  Literary  Messenger,  monthly.  Alex.  Mcll- 
waine  and  John  C.  Ivory,  editors  and  proprietors. 

1841.  The  Missionary  Advocate,  monthly;  by  the  Young 
Men's  Missionary  Society  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Church. 

1841.  Reformed  Presbyterian  and  Covenanter,  monthly. 
Rev.  John  Roney,  editor. 

1841.  The  Daily  Sun.  Daniel  McCurdy,  publisher;  Russell 
Errett,  editor. 

[  499  ] 


THE   HISTOKY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

1841.  Pittsburgh  Intelligencer,  weekly.  A.  A.  Anderson, 
publisher;  Isaac  Errett,  editor. 

1841.  Pittsburgh  Herald  and  Weekly  Advertiser,  weekly. 
S.  Greely,  Curtis  &  Co. 

1841.  The  Free  Press,  German.  B.  Guenther,  editor  and 
proprietor. 

1842.  The  Preacher,  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian; 
semi-monthly.  Rev.  John  T.  Pressly,  D.  D. ;  succeeded  by 
Rev.  David  R.  Kerr,  D.  D.,  in  1845.  In  1848  changed  to  a 
weekly.  In  1854  continued  as  the  United  Presbyterian,  by 
Dr.  Kerr.  This  paper  absorbed  the  United  Presbyterian 
and  Evangelical  Guardian,  of  Cincinnati,  about  1858;  the 
Westminster  Herald,  of  New  Wilmington,  Pa.,  in  1868 ;  the 
Presbyterian  Witness,  of  Cincinnati,  in  1870 ;  the  Christian 
Instructor,  of  Philadelphia,  in  1858.  Rev.  Dr.  Kerr  and 
H.  J.  Murdoch  are  the  present  proprietors. 

1842.  The  Spirit  of  Liberty,  a  continuation  of  the  Chris- 
tian Witness,  weekly.  Wm.  C.  Burleigh,  editor;  succeeded 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  and  continued  by  Reese  C.  Fleeson, 
until  1845. 

1843.  The  Spirit  of  the  Age,  April  nineteenth,  by  Foster, 
McMillin  &  Kennedy  (Independent). 

1844.  The  Pittsburgh  Catholic.  The  first  issue  is  under 
date  of  March  sixteenth,  1844.  The  paper  was  started  by 
P.  F.  Boylan,  and  conducted  by  him  until  July,  1847,  when 
it  was  purchased  by  the  present  proprietor,  Jacob  Porter. 
The  word  '  *  Pittsburgh  ' '  was  dropped  from  the  title  some 
years  ago.  The  paper  is  the  organ  of  the  Catholic  Diocese 
of  Pittsburgh,  but  is  individual  property. 

1844.  The  Mystery,  by  Dr.  Martin  R.  Delaney;  a  paper 
devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  colored  race  and  issued 
weekly. 

1845.  The  Daily  Morning  Ariel.  James  Duvall,  publisher; 
W.  C.  Tobey,  editor  (Dem.). 

1845.  The  Alleghenian,  weekly.  James  and  John  B.  Ken- 
nedy. 

1845.  The  Nautilus,  by  E.  Z.  C.  Judson  (Ned  Buntline), 
and  Henry  Beeler ;  a  monthly  literary  periodical,  which  was 
issued  for  about  two  years. 

[  500  ] 


THE   NEWSPAPERS 

1846.  January,  The  Olden  Time,  monthly ;  devoted  to  the 
Preservation  of  Documents,  relating  to  the  Early  History 
of  Pittsburgh,  edited  by  Neville  B.  Craig.  Twenty-four 
numbers  were  issued  covering  the  years  1846-47. 

1846.  The  Saturday  Visitor,  weekly.  Mrs.  Jane  Gray 
Swisshelm.  This  was  a  continuation  of  the  Spirit  of  Lib- 
erty, and  was  finally  absorbed  as  the  weekly  of  the  Com- 
mercial Journal. 

1847.  The  Stars  and  Stripes,  weekly.    Dr.  N.  W.  Truxall. 
1847.  The  Albatross,  weekly.     Charles  P.  Shiras  (anti- 
slavery).    Changed  to  the  Western  World.     (Literary.) 

1847.  The  Temperance  Banner,  weekly.  Eobert  Elder 
and  Solomon  Alter. 

1847.  Daily  Telegraph.  Thomas  W.  Wright  and  William 
Charlton  (Whig  and  anti-Masonic).  About  the  same  time 
Charles  Bryant  and  Oscar  MdClelland  started  the  Daily 
Clipper,  there  being  a  race  as  to  which  should  be  out  first. 
In  a  few  months  the  Clipper  was  brought  out  by  the  Tele- 
graph, and  the  latter  expired  in  about  three  years. 

1847.  The  Evening  Day  Book.  Charles  P.  Shiras  and 
Wm.  A.  Kinsloe. 

1848.  The  Token,  monthly.  Alex.  B.  Russell,  editor  and 
proprietor  (Odd  Fellow). 

1848.  Semi-Weekly  Watchman.  Thomas  W.  Wright. 
Changed  to  the  Daily  Ledger. 

1850.  Allegheny  Daily  Enterprise.  Gamble,  Irwin  &  Cal- 
low. 

1850.  The  Dollar  Ledger,  weekly.  J.  S.  M.  Young.  In 
this  same  j^ear  were  printed  The  Evening  Tribune  and  The 
Daily  Express. 

1850.  Daily  Evening  Neu)s.  John  Taggart,  publisher  (In- 
dependent).   Lived  about  a  year. 

In  addition  to  the  above  we  find  in  Harris '  Directory,  for 
1837,  the  following  publications  mentioned: 

Eagle  of  the  West  (German).  J.  Smith,  Z.  McDonald  and 
T.  Phillips;  weekly. 

The  Old  Indian  Physician  and  Family  Botanical  Register. 
Dr.  E.  Warner,  editor;  weekly. 

Glad  Tidings  (Universalist).  S.  A.  Davis  and  M.  A.  Chap- 
pell,  editors ;  weekly. 

[  501  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Trades  Papers. 

The  trades  newspapers  of  Pittsburgh  rank  the  other  jour- 
nals of  this  class  in  the  country.  This  is,  of  course,  but  the 
natural  outcome  of  the  tremendous  industrial  life.  They 
are:  Amalgamated  Association  Journal,  American  Man- 
ufacturer and'  Iron  World,  American  Metal  Market 
(New  York),  Banker,  Benzinger's  Magazine,  Builder, 
Builders'  Gazette,  China,  Glass  and  Lamps,  Coal  Trade 
Bulletvn,  Commerce,  Commoner  and  Glassworker,  Construc- 
tion, High  Tide,  Inland  Navigator,  Insurance  World,  Iron 
Age,  Iron  Trade  Review,  Labor  World,  Liquor  Dealers' 
Journal,  La  Trinacria,  Money,  Monitor,  National  Glass 
Budget,  National  Labor  Tribune,  National  Stockman  and 
Farmer,  Petroleum  Gazette,  Pittsburgh  Live  Stock  Journal, 
Plumbing  News,  Railway  Age,  Steel  Age,  Team  Owners' 
Review,  Trades  Journal,  Transportation,  Pittsburgh  Beo- 
bachter. 


[  502  ] 


THE   JUDICIARY 


THE   JUDICIARY 


The  Judiciary  of  Allegheny  County.* 

The  English  system  of  Jurisprudence  prevailed  in  Penn- 
sylvania during  the  Proprietary  Government.  It  was 
slightly  modified  by  the  Constitution  of  1776,  and  radically 
changed  by  the  Constitution  of  1790.  To  understand  our 
early  courts,  we  must  have  some  knowledge  of  the  Pro- 
vincial system. 

The  Act  of  twenty-second  May,  1722,  which  continued  in 
force,  with  slight  amendments  and  some  interruptions,  until 
after  the  Revolution,  established  and  regulated  the  courts. 
Each  county  had  a  court  of  "  General  Quarter  Sessions  of 
the  Peace  and  Gaol  Delivery,"  for  criminal  offenses,  and  a 
court  of  *'  Common  Pleas,"  for  the  trial  of  civil  causes, 
each  court  required  to  hold  four  terms  in  the  year.  The 
Governor  was  authorized  to  appoint  and  commission  "  a 
competent  number  of  Justices  of  the  Peace  "  for  each 
county;  and  they,  or  any  three  of  them,  could  hold  the 
Court  of  Quarter  Sessions.  He  was  also  authorized  to 
appoint  and  commission  "  a  competent  number  of  persons  " 
to  hold  the  Common  Pleas.  At  first,  the  same  persons  were 
appointed  and  commissioned  for  both  courts.  But  the  Act 
of  ninth  September,  1759,  prohibited  the  justices  of  the 
Quarter  Sessions  from  holding  commissions  as  judges  of 
the  Common  Pleas.    That  Act  required  ' '  five  persons  of  the 

*  A  partial  adaptation  of  Judge  J.  W.  F.  White's  pamphlet. 

[  503  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

best  discretion,  capacity,  judgment  and  integrity  "  to  be 
commissioned  for  the  Common  Pleas,  any  three  of  whom 
could  hold  the  court.  These  justices  and  judges  were  ap- 
pointed for  life  or  during  good  behavior.  The  Constitu- 
tion of  1776  limited  them  to  a  term  of  seven  years,  but  the 
Constitution  of  1790  restored  the  old  rule  of  appointment 
for  life  or  good  behavior. 

The  Orphans'  Court  was  established  by  Act  of  twenty- 
ninth  March,  1713,  to  be  held  by  the  justices  of  the  Quarter 
Sessions.  But  the  Act  of  1759  changed  this,  and  made  the 
judges  of  the  Common  Pleas  the  judges  of  the  Orphans' 
Court. 

The  Act  of  1722  established  a  Supreme  Court  of  three 
judges,  afterguards  increased  to  four,  who  reviewed,  on 
writs  of  error,  the  proceedings  in  the  county  courts,  and 
were  also  judges  of  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  for 
the  trial  of  all  capital  felonies,  for  which  purpose  they 
visited  each  county  twice  a  year.  The  Act  of  thirty-first 
May,  1718,  made  the  following  offenses  punishable  with 
death :  Treason,  misprision  of  treason,  murder,  manslaugh- 
ter, sodomy,  rape,  robbery,  mayhem,  arson,  burglary,  witch- 
craft, and  concealing  the  birth  of  a  bastard  child. 

All  this  region  of  the  State  was  then  in  Cumberland 
county. 

Bedford  county  was  erected  by  Act  of  ninth  March,  1771, 
and  all  west  of  the  mountains  was  included  in  it.  Our  courts 
were  then  held  at  Bedford.  The  first  court  held  there  was 
April  sixteenth,  1771.  The  scattered  settlers  of  the  West 
were  represented  by  George  Wilson,  Wm.  Crawford, 
Thomas  Gist,  and  Dorsey  Pentecost,  who  were  justices  of 
the  peace  and  judges  of  the  court.  The  court  divided  the 
county  into  townships.  Pitt  Township  (including  Pitts- 
burgh) embraced  the  greater  part  of  the  present  county  of 
Allegheny,  and  portions  of  Beaver,  Washington,  and  West- 
moreland, and  had  fifty-two  land-owners,  twenty  tenants, 
and  thirteen  single  freemen. 

Westmoreland  county  was  formed  out  of  Bedford  by  Act 
of  twenty-six  February,  1773,  and  embraced  all  of  the  prov- 
ince west  of  the  mountains.  The  act  directed  the  courts  to 
be  held  at  the  house  of  Robert  Hanna,  until  a  court  house 

[  504  ] 


THE    JUDICIARY 

should  be  built.  Robert  Hanna  lived  in  a  log  house  about 
three  miles  northeast  of  where  Greensburgh  now  stands. 

Five  trustees  were  named  in  tlie  act  to  locate  the 
county  seat  and  erect  the  public  buildings.  Robert 
Hanna  and  Joseph  Erwin  were  two  of  them;  Hanna 
rented  his  house  to  Erwin  to  be  kept  as  a  tavern,  and  got 
the  majority  of  the  trustees  to  recommend  his  place  — 
where  a  few  other  cabins  were  speedily  erected,  and  the 
place  named  Hannastown  —  for  the  county  seat.  Gen. 
Arthur  St.  Clair  and  a  minority  of  the  trustees  recom- 
mended Pittsburgh.  This  difference  of  opinion,  and  the 
unsettled  condition  of  affairs  during  the  Revolution,  de- 
layed the  matter,  until  1787,  when  the  county  seat  was  fixed 
at  Greensburg.  In  1775,  Hannastown  had  twenty-five  or 
thirty  cabins,  having  about  as  many  houses  and  inliabitants 
as  Pittsburgh.  Now  its  site  is  scarcely  known.  The  town 
was  burnt  by  the  Indians  in  July,  1782,  but  the  house  of 
Hanna,  being  adjacent  to  the  fort,  escaped,  and  the  courts 
continued  to  be  held  at  his  house  until  October,  1786;  the 
first  at  Greensburg  was  in  January,  1787. 

As  there  was  no  court  house  at  Hannastown,  the  courts 
were  always  held  in  the  house  of  Robert  Hanna.  Parties, 
jurors,  witnesses,  and  lawyers  were  crowded  together  in  a 
small  room,  nearly  all  standing.  The  judges  occupied  com- 
mon hickory  chairs  raised  on  a  clapboard  bench  at  one  side. 

During  the  Revolutionary  War,  the  courts  met  regularly, 
but  little  business  was  transacted,  and  the  laws  were 
not  rigidly  enforced.  At  the  October  sessions,  1781,  only 
one  constable  attended,  and  he  was  from  Pittsburgh. 

During  all  the  time  the  courts  were  held  at  Hannastown, 
Pittsburgh  was  in  Westmoreland  county.  The  first  court 
was  held  April  sixth,  1773.  William  Crawford  was  the  first 
presiding  justice. 

The  first  courts  held  in  Pittsburgh  were  Virginia  courts, 
administering  the  laws  of  Virginia.  They  were  held  under 
authority  of  Lord  Dunmore,  Governor  of  Virginia.  The 
first  court  was  held  February  twenty-first,  1775.  The  jus- 
tices of  the  peace  of  Augusta  county,  who  held  this  court, 
were  Geo.  Croghan,  John  Campbell,  John  Connolly,  Dorsey 
Pentecost,  Thomas  Smallman,  and  John  Gibson.    John  Gib- 

[  505  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OP   PITTSBURGH 

son  was  an  uncle  of  Chief  Justice  Gibson.  The  court  con- 
tinued in  session  four  days,  and  then  adjourned  to  Staunton, 
Va.  Courts  were  also  held  in  May  and  September  of  that 
year.  Connolly  attended  the  court  in  May,  but  soon  after 
that  the  Revolutionary  War  broke  out,  when  he  and  Lord 
Dunmore  fled  to  the  British  camp  never  to  return. 

The  regular  Virginia  courts  continued  to  be  held  at  Pitts- 
burgh, for  West  Augusta  county,  as  it  was  then  called,  until 
November  thirtieth,  1776.  The  territory  was  then  divided 
into  three  counties  called  Ohio,  Yohogania,  and  Monongalia. 
Pittsburgh  was  in  Yohogania  county,  which  embraced  the 
greater  portions  of  the  present  counties  of  Allegheny  and 
Washington.  The  courts  of  this  county  were  held  regularly 
until  the  twenty-eighth  of  August,  1780.  They  were  some- 
times held  in  Pittsburgh,  sometimes  in  or  near  the  present 
town  of  Washington,  but  the  greater  portion  of  the  time  on 
the  farm  of  Andrew  Heath,  on  the  Monongahela  river,  near 
the  present  line  between  Allegheny  and  Washington  county, 
where  a  log  court  house  and  jail  were  erected. 

Washington  county  was  erected  by  Act  of  twenty-eighth 
March,  1781.  It  embraced  all  that  part  of  the  State  lying 
west  of  the  Monongahela  and  south  of  the  Ohio.  But  Pitts- 
burgh remained  in  Westmoreland  county.  Fayette  county 
was  formed  February  seventeenth,  1784. 

Allegheny  county  was  established  by  Act  of  twenty-fourth 
September,  1788.  It  embraced  portions  of  Westmoreland 
and  Washington  counties,  and  all  the  territory  north  of  the 
Ohio  and  west  of  the  Allegheny,  from  which  were  after- 
wards formed  the  counties  of  Armstrong,  Beaver,  Butler, 
Crawford,  Erie,  Lawrence,  Mercer,  Venango,  and  Warren, 
and  parts  of  Indiana  and  Clarion. 

The  Act  appointed  trustees  to  select  lots  in  the  reserved 
tract,  opposite  to  Pittsburgh,  on  which  to  erect  a  court 
house.  But  that  was  changed  by  the  Act  of  thirteenth 
April,  1791,  which  directed  the  public  buildings  to  be  erected 
in  Pittsburgh. 

The  first  court  —  Quarter  Sessions  —  was  held  sixteenth 
December,  1788,  by  George  Wallace,  president,  and  Joseph 
Scott,  John  Wilkins,  and  John  Johnson,  associates.  A  let- 
ter was  read  from  Mr.  Bradford,  Attorney-General,  ap- 

[  506  ] 


THE   JUDICIARY 

pointing  Robert  Galbraith,  Esq.,  his  deputy,  who  was  sworn 
in ;  and  on  his  motion  the  following  persons  were  admitted 
as  members  of  the  bar,  viz :  Hugh  H.  Brackenridge,  John 
Woods,  James  Ross,  George  Thompson,  Alexander  Addi- 
son, Daniel  Bradford,  James  Carson,  David  St.  Clair,  and 
Michael  Huffnagle,  Esqs. 

The  first  term  of  the  Common  Pleas  was  held  fourteenth 
March,  1789.  The  Appearance  Docket  contained  fifty-six 
cases.  The  brief  minute  says  the  court  was  held  *'  before 
George  Wallace  and  his  Associates,"  without  naming  them. 
The  same  minute  is  made  for  the  June  and  September 
Terms  of  that  year.  After  that  no  name  is  given.  The  old 
minutes  of  the  court  and  other  records  and  papers  of  the 
early  courts  were  in  an  upper  room  of  the  court  house,  and 
were  destroyed  in  the  fire  of  May,  1882. 

The  Constitution  of  September  second,  1790,  and  the  Act 
of  Assembly  following  it,  April  thirteenth,  1791,  made 
radical  changes  in  the  judicial  system  of  the  State.  Justices 
of  the  peace  were  no  longer  judges  of  the  courts.  The  State 
was  divided  into  Circuits  or  Judicial  Districts,  composed  of 
not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  six  counties.  A  president- 
judge  was  appointed  by  the  Governor  for  each  district,  and 
associate  judges,  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  four, 
for  each  county.  The  associate  judges  could  hold  the  Quar- 
ter Sessions  and  Common  Pleas.  All  judges  were  com- 
missioned for  life  or  during  good  behavior.  The  Constitu- 
tion did  not  require  any  of  the  judges  to  be  ''  learned  in 
the  law,"  but,  no  doubt,  it  was  understood  that  the  judges 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  the  president  judges  of  the 
districts,  were  to  be  experienced  lawyers.  By  Act  of  twenty- 
fourth  February,  1806,  the  associate  judges  of  each  county 
were  reduced  to  two. 

The  State  was  divided  into  five  circuits  or  districts.  The 
counties  of  Westmoreland,  Fayette,  Washington,  and  Alle- 
gheny, composed  the  fifth  district.  The  new  judicial  system 
went  into  operation  September  first,  1791. 

The  first  judges  commissioned  for  Allegheny  county,  their 
commissions  bearing  date  October  ninth,  1788,  were  George 
Wallace,  president,  and  John  Metzgar,  Michael  Hillman, 
and  Robert  Ritchie,  associates.  They  were  the  judges  until 
the  re-organization  under  the  Constitution  of  1790. 

[  507  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

George  Wallace  was  not  a  lawyer,  but  had  been  a  justice 
of  the  peace  since  1784,  and  was  a  man  of  good  education. 
He  owned  the  tract  of  land  known  as  "  Braddock's  Fields," 
where  he  lived  in  comfortable  circumstances,  and  where  he 
died. 

Upon  the  re-organization  of  the  courts  under  the  Consti- 
tution of  1790,  Alexander  Addison  was  appointed  president- 
judge  of  the  fifth  district,  his  commission  bearing  date 
August  seventeenth,  1791.  His  associates  for  Allegheny- 
county,  commissioned  the  same  day,  were  George  Wallace, 
John  Wilkins,  Jr.,  John  McDowell,  and  John  Gibson, 

The  borough  of  Pittsburgh  was  incorporated  as  a  city,  by 
Act  of  eighteenth  March,  1816.  The  Act  created  a  Mayor's 
Court,  composed  of  the  mayor,  a  recorder,  and  twelve  ald- 
ermen. The  recorder  and  aldermen  were  appointed  by  the 
Governor  during  good  behavior,  and  the  mayor  to  be  elected 
annually  by  the  city  councils  from  the  aldermen.  The 
Mayor's  Court  had  jurisdiction  to  try  forgeries,  perjuries, 
larcenies,  assaults  and  batteries,  riots,  routs,  and  unlawful 
assemblies,  and  generally  all  offenses  committed  in  the  city, 
cognizable  in  a  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions ;  besides  all  viola- 
tions of  city  ordinances. 

The  causes  were  regularly  tried  before  a  jury.  The 
mayor  presided  in  the  court,  but  the  recorder  was  the  law 
judge  or  legal  officer  of  the  court.  The  mayor  or  recorder 
and  any  three  of  the  aldermen  could  hold  court.  The  re- 
corder was  also  vested  with  civil  jurisdiction,  the  same  as 
the  aldermen.  He  was  to  receive  a  salary  to  be  paid  by  the 
city. 

Charles  Wilkins,  son  of  Gen.  John  Wilkins,  was  the  first 
recorder.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1807,  appointed 
recorder  in  1816,  and  died  in  1818,  Charles  Shaler  was 
recorder  from  1818  to  1821.  He  was  succeeded  by  Ephraim 
Pentland,  who  was  prothonotary  of  the  county  from  1807 
to  1821.  Pentland  came  to  Pittsburgh  in  1801  or  1802;  he 
had  been  a  printer  and  editor;  he  was  a  short,  heavy-set 
man,  very  fond  of  jokes  and  a  noted  character.  He  died  in 
1839.  He  was  succeeded  by  H.  H.  Van  Amringe,  who  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1837,  and  appointed  recorder  in  1839. 
He  held  the  office  only  a  few  months,  for  the  Mayor's  Court 

[  508  ] 


THE    JUDICIARY 

was  abolished  by  Act  of  twelfth  June,  1839.  Van  Amringe 
came  here  from  Chester  county.  He  was  an  excellent  law- 
yer, and  courteous  gentleman,  but  erratic  in  his  religious 
notions. 

List  of  Judges. 

Judges  of  the  Common  Pleas,  Quarter  Sessions,  and  Or- 
phans' Court,  Prior  to  the  Constitution  of  1790. 

When  appointed: 

1788,  Oct.  9.  Geo.  Wallace,  president. 
1788,  Oct.  9.  John  Metzgar,  associate. 
1788,  Oct.  9.  Michael  Hillman,  associate. 
1788,  Oct.  9.  Robert  Ritchie,  associate. 

These  were  the  judges  until  August  seventeenth,  1791, 
when  the  courts  were  reorganized  under  the  Constitution 
of  1790. 

The  following  were  the  justices  of  the  peace,  entitled  to 
sit  in  the  Quarter  Sessions,  but  not  in  the  Common  Pleas,  or 
Orphans'  Court: 
When  appointed: 
1788,  Sept.  26.  James  Bryson. 
1788,  Sept.  27.  Samuel  Jones. 
1788,  Nov.    21.  John  Johnson. 
1788,  Nov.    21.  Abraham  Kirkpatrick. 
1788,  Nov.    21.  Richard  Butler. 
1788,  Nov.    21.  William  Tilton. 

1788,  Nov.    25.  John   Wilkins,   father   of  John,   Jr.,   and 

William. 

1789,  May    21.  Henry  Nesby. 

Associate  Judges,  under  the  Constitution  of  1790. 

Laymen  appointed  during  good  behavior,  until  1851,  and 
then  elected  for  a  term  of  five  years. 
When  appointed: 

1791,  Aug.    17.  Geo.  Wallace.    Resigned  in  1798,  and  re- 
appointed. 
1791,  Aug.    17.  John  Wilkins,  Jr.    Resigned  Feb.  26,  1796. 
1791,  Aug.    17.  John  McDowell.    Died  in  1812. 
1791,  Aug.    17.  John  Gibson.    Died  in  1800. 

[  509  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

When  appointed: 

1796,  Feb.  26.  Geo.  Thompson.  In  place  of  John  Wil- 
kins,  Jr. 

1800,  July  17.  John  B.  C.  Lucas.  In  place  of  Gen.  John 
Gibson. 

1812,  July    24.  Francis  McClure.    Resigned  Dec.  22,  1838. 

1814,  June      3.  Geo.  Robinson.    Died  in  1818. 

1818,  Sept.     2.  James  Riddle.    Resigned  Dec.  25,  1838. 

1838,  Dec.     27.  William  Hays.    Resigned  April  11,  1840. 

1838,  Dec.    31.  Hugh  Davis.    Resigned  in  1840. 

1840,  Mar.  20.  Wm.  Porter.  Commission  annulled  by  de- 
cision of  Supreme  Court,  and  reap- 
pointed Feb.  17,  1843. 

1840,  April  16.  John  M.  Snowden.  Recommissioned  March 
31,  1841. 

1845,  April    9.  John  Anderson,    Declined. 

1845,  April  17.  Wm.  G.  Hawkins.    Declined. 

1845,  May  8.  Wm.  Kerr.  Recommissioned  March  14, 
1846. 

1848,  Feb.     28.  Samuel  Jones.    Resigned  May  12,  1851. 

1851,  Mar.  18.  Wm.  Boggs.  Recommissioned  Nov.  10, 
1851. 

1851,  June   10.  Thomas    L.    McMillan.      Recommissioned 

Nov.  10,  1851.    Died  1852. 

1852,  April  27.  Patrick  McKenna.    Until  Dec.  1,  1852. 
1852,  Nov.    29.  Gabriel   Adams.     Commissioned   for   five 

years. 
Nov.    12.  John   E.   Parke.     Commissioned   for  five 

years. 
Nov.    17.  Gabriel   Adams.     Commissioned   for   five 


1856 

1857 
1861 


years. 
Nov.    13.  John  Brown.    Commissioned  for  five  years. 
John  Brown  was  the  last  layman  commissioned  as  judge. 
The  law  was  changed,  requiring  two  associate  law  judges  to 
be  elected. 

President-Judges  op  the  Common  Pleas,  etc. 

Appointed  by  the  Governor,  during  good  behavior,  until 
after  the  Constitutional  Amendment  of  1850;  then  elected 
for  a  term  of  ten  years. 

[  510  ] 


THE    JUDICIARY 

When  appointed: 

1791,  Aug.  17.  Alexander  Addison.  Impeached  and  re- 
moved 1803. 

1803,  April  30.  Samuel  Roberts.    Died  Dec.  13,  1820. 

1820,  Dec.     18.  William  Wilkins.    Resigned  May  25,  1824. 

1824,  June      5.  Charles  Shaler.    Resigned  May  4,  1835. 

1835,  May  15.  Trevanion  B.  Dallas.  Resigned  June  24, 
1839. 

1839,  July      1.  Benjamin  Patton,  Jr.    Resigned  in  1850. 

1850,  Jan.  31.  Wm.  B.  McClure.  Elected  in  1851,  and 
commissioned  for  ten  years.  Re-elected 
in  1861,  and  commissioned  for  ten  years. 
Died  in  1861. 

1862,  Jan.  4.  James  P.  Sterrett.  Appointed  in  place  of 
Wm.  B.  McClure,  deceased.  Elected  in 
1862,  and  commissioned  Nov.  4,  1862,  for 
ten  years.  Re-elected  in  1872,  and  com- 
missioned Nov.  10,  1872,  for  ten  years. 
Resigned  in  1877,  when  appointed  to  the 
Supreme  Court.  E.  H.  Stowe  then  be- 
came president-judge,  and  was  re-elected 
in  1882  for  ten  years. 

1877,  Mar.    15.  E.  H.  Stowe,  to  January,  1903. 

1903,  Jan.    . ..  Frederick  Hill  Collier. 

Associate  Law  Judges  of  the  Common  Pleas. 

When  appointed : 

1859,  April  16.  John  W.  Maynard.  Until  first  Monday  of 
December,  1859. 

1859,  Nov.  8.  Thos.  Mellon.  Elected  and  commissioned 
for  ten  years. 

1862,  May  22.  David  Ritchie.  Commissioned  until  first 
Monday  in  December,  1862. 

1862,  Nov.  4.  Edwin  H.  Stowe.  Elected  and  commis- 
sioned for  ten  years. 

1869,  Nov.  26.  Frederick  H.  Collier.  Elected  and  com- 
missioned for  ten  years. 

1872,  Nov.     6.  E.  H.  Stowe.    Re-elected  and  commissioned 
for  ten  years. 
[  511  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

When  appointed: 

1877,  Mar.  . . .  Charles  S.  Fetterman.  Appointed  until 
first  Monday  in  December,  1877. 

1877,  Nov.  . . .  John  H.  Bailey.  Elected  and  commissioned 
for  ten  years. 

1879,  Nov.  ...  Fred.  H.  Collier.  Re-elected  and  commis- 
sioned for  ten  years. 

1888, Jacob    Frederick    Slagle.     Died    Sept.    6, 

1900. 

1900, Marshall  Brown.    Appointed  to  fill  vacancy 

by  death  of  J.  F.  Slagle. 

1902, James   R.   Macf arlane.     Elected  for  ten 

years. 

Recapitulation. 

Common  Pleas  No.  1. 

1883-1900.  President-judge,  E.  H.  Stowe;  associate  judges, 

F.  H.  Collier  and  Jacob  F.  Slagle. 
1900-1903.  President- judge,  E.  H.  Stowe;  associate  judges, 

F.  H.  Collier  and  Marshall  Brown. 
1903  to  present.  President- judge,  F.  H.  Collier;  associate 

judges,  Marshall  Brown  and  James  R.  Mac- 

farlane. 

President-Judges  of  the  District  Court. 

When  appointed: 

1833,  May      2.  Robert  C.  Grier.    Resigned  Aug.  8,  1846. 
1846,  Aug.    13.  Hopewell  Hepburn.    Recommissioned  Feb. 
17,  1847.    Resigned  Nov.  3, 1851. 

1851,  Nov.     3.  Walter   Forward.     Elected   and   commis- 

sioned for  ten  years.    Died  in  1852. 

1852,  Nov.    27.  P.  C.  Shannon.    Appointed  till  first  Monday 

in  December,  1853. 

1853,  Nov.    19.  Moses    Hampton.      Elected    and    commis- 

sioned for  ten  years. 

1863,  Nov.  3.  Moses  Hampton.  Re-elected  and  commis- 
sioned for  ten  years. 

1873,  Nov.    . . .  Thomas  Ewing.    Elected  and  commissioned 
for  ten  years. 
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THE   JUDICIARY 

Associate  Law  Judges  of  the  District  Court. 

When  appointed: 

1839,  June     22.  Trevanion  B.  Dallas.    Died  1841. 

1841,  May       6.  Charles  Shaler.    Resigned  May  20,  1844. 

1844,  Sept.  17.  Hopewell  Hepburn.  Appointed  president 
in  1846. 

1846,  Aug.  20.  Walter  H.  Lowrie.  Reconunissioned  April 
17,  1847.  Elected  to  the  Supreme  Court 
in  1851. 

1851,  Nov.  7.  Henry  W.  Williams.  Re-elected  in  1861. 
Elected  to  Supreme  Court  in  1868.  Died 
1877. 

1868,  Nov.  10.  John  M.  Kirkpatrick.  Appointed  till  first 
Monday  of  December,  1869,  and  elected 
and  commissioned  Nov.  23,  1869,  for  ten 
years.  Re-elected  in  1879,  and  commis- 
sioned for  ten  years. 

1873,  Nov.  ...  J.  W.  F.  White.  Elected  and  commissioned 
for  ten  years. 

Common  Pleas  No.  2. 

By  the  Constitution  of  1873  the  District  Court  was  abol- 
ished and  became  Common  Pleas  No.  2. 
When  appointed : 

1873,  Dec.  1.  John  William  Fletcher  White.  Re-elected 
in  1883  and  1893.  Was  made  president- 
judge  of  No.  2  on  May  13,  1897.  Died 
Nov.  5,  1900. 
1874, Thomas  Ewing.  Same  year  made  presi- 
dent-judge; re-elected  1884  and  1894; 
died  May  9,  1897. 

1879, John  Milton  Kirkpatrick.     Appointed  to 

fill  vacancy  (of  Judge  Williams),  on  Nov. 
21,  1868.    Elected  1869;  re-elected  1879; 
resigned  Sept.  23,  1885. 
1885,  Oct.    10.  Christopher    Magee.      Appointed    to     fill 
vacancy     (of    John    M.    Kirkpatrick). 

33  [  513  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

AVhen  appointed: 

Elected  1886  for  ten  years ;  term  expiring 

January,  1897. 
1896, Robert  S.  Frazer.    Elected  for  ten  years  to 

1907;    succeeded   Judge   White.     Made 

president-judge,  1900. 
1897, John  D.  Shaf er.    Succeeded  Judge  Ewing. 

1898,  elected  for  ten  years ;  still  serving. 
1901, Elliott  Rodgers.    Elected  for  ten  years ; 

resigned  1905. 
1905,  Mar.    18.  James  S.  Young.    Appointed    to    succeed 

Elliott  Rodgers;  elected  for  ten  years 

from  1905;  still  serving. 

Recapitulation. 
Common  Pleas  No.  2. 

1883-1885.  President-judge,  Thomas  Ewing;  associate 
judges,  J.  W.  F.  White,  J.  M.  Kirkpatrick. 

1885-1897.  President-judge,  Thomas  Ewing;  associate 
judges,  J.  W.  F.  Wliite,  C.  Magee. 

1897-1900.  President-judge,  J.  W.  F.  White;  associate 
judges,  Robert  S.  Frazer,  John  D.  Shafer. 

1900-1905.  President-judge,  Robert  S.  Frazer;  associate 
judges,  John  D.  Shafer,  Elliott  Rodgers. 

1905  to  present.  President-judge,  Robert  S.  Frazer;  asso- 
ciate judges,  John  D.  Shafer,  James  S.  Young. 

Common  Pleas  No.  3. 

Created  by  Act  of  Legislature  to  begin  from  1891. 

When  appointed: 

1891,  June  2.  John  M.  Kennedy.  Appointed  president- 
judge  by  the  Governor.  The  court  or- 
ganized on  that  date,  but  the  appoint- 
ment was  of  a  few  months  prior  date. 
In  1892  elected  for  ten  years  and  again 
in  1902. 

1892, Samuel  McClurg.    Elected  for  ten  years ; 

re-elected  1902. 
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THE   JUDICIARY 

When  appointed: 

1892,   William  D.  Porter,  Jr.     Elected  for  ten 

years;  resigned  1898. 
1898,  Sept.     5.  John  A.  Evans.    Appointed  to  fill  vacancy 

of  W.  D.  Porter;  elected  in  1899  for  ten 

years. 

Recapitulation. 
Common  Pleas  No.  3. 

1891-1898.  President-judge,  John  M.  Kennedy;  associate 
judges,  Samuel  A.  McClurg,  William  D.  Por- 
ter, Jr. 

1898  to  present.  President-judge,  John  M.  Kennedy ;  asso- 
ciate judges,  Samuel  A.  McClurg,  John  A. 
Evans. 

Orphans'  Court  of  Allegheny  County. 

The  Constitution  of  1874,  Sec.  22,  provided  that  in  every 
county  wherein  the  population  should  exceed  150,000,  there 
should  be  a  separate  Orphans'  Court,  consisting  of  one  or 
more  judges.  In  pursuance  thereof,  the  Legislature,  by 
Act  of  May  nineteenth,  1874,  constituted  a  separate  Or- 
phans '  Court  for  Allegheny  county,  with  one  judge.  At  the 
general  election  in  November,  1874,  William  G.  Hawkins 
was  elected  president-judge,  and  commissioned  for  the  term 
of  ten  years  from  the  first  Monday  of  January,  1875. 

By  Act  of  May  fifth,  1881,  an  associate  judge  was  added. 
May  twenty-seventh,  1881,  James  W.  Over  was  commis- 
sioned by  the  Governor  until  the  first  Monday  of  January 
following.  In  November,  1881,  he  was  elected  and  com- 
missioned for  a  term  of  ten  years  from  the  first  Monday  of 
January,  1882. 

When  appointed: 

1874, William  G.  Hawkins,  Jr.  Elected  presi- 
dent-judge for  a  term  of  ten  years;  re- 
elected 1895  and  1905. 

1881, James  W.  Over.    Appointed  by  Governor ; 

[  515  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

When  appointed : 

same  year  elected  for  term  of  ten  years, 
beginning  1882 ;  re-elected  1902. 

1901,  Dec.  . . .  Josiah  Cohen.  Took  seat  January  14,  1902, 
serving  until  election,  when  defeated  and 
superseded  in  January,  1903,  by: 

1902, Jacob  J.  Miller.    Elected  for  ten  years  from 

1903. 

Recapitulation. 
Orphans'  Court  of  Allegheny  County. 

1874—1881.  President  and  only  judge,  William  G.  Haw- 
kins, Jr. 

1881-1901.  President-judge,  William  G.  Hawkins,  Jr.;  as- 
sociate judge,  James  W.  Over. 

1901-1903.  President-judge,  William  G.  Hawkins,  Jr.;  as- 
sociate judges,  James  W.  Over  and  Josiah 
Cohen. 

3903  to  present.  President- judge,  William  G.  Hawkins,  Jr.; 
associate  judges,  James  W.  Over  and  Jacob 
J.  Miller. 

Juvenile  Court  of  Allegheny  County. 

The  State  Legislature,  in  1901,  passed  an  Act  which  pro- 
vided a  separate  tribunal  for  the  hearing  of  dependent  and 
delinquent  children  under  the  age  of  sixteen  years.  Alle- 
gheny county  let  a  year  go  by  before  the  Juvenile  Court  was 
established.  The  first  Act  was  cumbersome,  and  in  March, 
1903,  Juvenile  Court  committees  from  Philadelphia  and 
Allegheny  county  secured  new  legislation  regarding  the 
Juvenile  Court,  contained  in  five  Acts,  known  as  Juvenile 
Court  Laws.  This  subject  is  intensely  important  to  every 
man  and  woman,  for  here  the  "  hope  lies."  The  work 
already  accomplished  is  bearing  fruit.  The  judges  have 
' '  made  a  man  ' '  of  many  a  boy.  The  work  of  Judge  Lind- 
sey,  of  Denver,  is  proof  to  the  world  of  the  possibility  of  a 
right  outcome  if  the  attempt  is  only  made  in  this,  the  most 

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THE   JUDICIARY 

pathetic  side  of  the  story  of  life.  Excerpts  from  the  Penn- 
sylvania legislation  make  explicit  the  desired  end  of  the 
State : 

* '  The  welfare  of  the  State  demands  that  children  should 
be  guarded  from  association  and  contact  with  crime  and 
criminals.  *  *  *  The  ordinary  process  of  the  criminal 
law  does  not  provide  such  treatment  and  care  and  moral 
encouragement  as  are  essential  to  all  children  in  the  for- 
mative period  of  life,  but  endangers  the  whole  future  of  the 
child.  Experience  has  shown  that  children  lacking  proper 
parental  care  and  guardianship  are  led  into  courses  of  life 
which  render  them  liable  to  the  pains  and  penalties  of  the 
criminal  law  of  the  State,  although,  in  fact,  the  real  interests 
of  such  child  or  children  require  that  they  be  not  incar- 
cerated in  penitentiaries  and  jails  as  members  of  the  crimi- 
nal class,  but  be  subjected  to  a  wise  care,  treatment  and 
control,  that  their  evil  tendencies  may  be  checked,  and  their 
better  instincts  may  be  strengthened.  To  that  end,  it  is 
important  that  the  power  of  the  courts  in  respect  to  the 
care,  treatment  and  control  over  dependent,  neglected,  de- 
linquent and  incorrigible  children  should  be  clearly  distin- 
guished from  the  powers  exercised  in  the  administration  of 
the  criminal  law. 

''  The  court  shall  appoint  one  or  more  discreet  persons  of 
good  character  to  serve  as  probation  officers  during  the 
pleasure  of  the  court,  said  probation  officers  to  receive  no 
compensation  from  the  public  treasury,  and  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  all  probation  officers  so  appointed  to  make  such 
investigations  as  may  be  required  by  the  court,  to  be  present 
in  court  when  the  case  is  heard,  and  to  furnish  to  the  court 
such  information  and  assistance  as  the  judge  may  require, 
and  to  take  such  charge  of  any  child  before  and  after  trial 
as  may  be  directed  by  the  court." 


[  517  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 


SOME    PIONEER    MEN   AND   OTHER 
MATTERS 


Not  to  the  great  Washington,  nor  to  Forbes,  who  gained 
the  territory  for  the  English,  nor  to  Simeon  Ecuyer,  who 
held  the  little  fort  and  sheltered  the  inliabitants  from  the 
schemes  of  Pontiac,  nor  to  Bouquet,  who  relieved  the  fort, 
and  again  opened  the  eastern  communication,  but  to  those 
men  who  came  to  stay,  who  became  personally  possessed 
of  the  land,  who  made  it  their  home,  who  undertook  to  wrest 
their  livelihood  from  the  place,  to  these  men  is  due  the 
honor  of  the  title  —  the  makers  of  Pittsburgh. 

The  first  men  who  bought  land  with  these  views  were 
Isaac  Graig  and  Stephen  Bayard.  They  purchased  from 
the  Penns,  in  January,  1784,  three  acres,  located  between 
Fort  Pitt  and  the  Allegheny  river.  Major  Isaac  Craig,  an 
Irishman  by  birth,  had  emigrated  to  Philadelphia,  in  1767, 
and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  had  become  a  Cap- 
tain of  Marines.  Later  he  became  a  Captain  of  Artillery, 
and  served  throughout  the  war.  Towards  the  close  of  the 
war,  he  was  ordered  to  Pittsburgh,  and  thereafter  con- 
tinued to  make  it  his  home.  He  filled  many  offices  of  public 
trust,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  making  and  develop- 
ment of  his  adopted  town.  He  died  at  his  country  home  on 
Montour's  Island,  on  May  fourth,  1825.  His  sons,  after 
him,  followed  his  example  in  their  citizenship. 

Col.  Stephen  Bayard  was  born  in  Maryland.  He  served 
throughout  the  entire  Revolution,  having  raised  his  own 

[  518  ] 


GENERAL    JAMES    O  HAKA. 


SOME  PIONEER  MEN  AND  OTHER  MATTERS 

company.  His  first  experience  in  the  western  country  was 
due  to  his  service  in  Brodhead's  expedition  against  the 
Indians,  which  was  dispatched  from  Pittsburgh.  The  young 
officer,  being  attracted  to  the  place,  after  his  military 
service  was  finished,  settled  here.  With  his  partner,  Isaac 
Craig,  he  was  one  of  the  leaders,  and  his  son,  after  him. 
Col.  Bayard  laid  out  the  town  of  Elizabeth,  naming  it  in 
honor  of  his  wife.  He  died  in  the  sixty-seventh  3^ear  of  his 
age,  1816,  beloved  and  honored  in  the  community. 

Col.  Bayard  was  partner  with  Isaac  Craig  in  the  pur- 
chase of  real  estate,  but  James  O'Hara  was  Craig's  partner 
in  that  great  undertaking,  the  establishment  of  the  manu- 
facture of  glass.  James  O'Hara  was  also  a  native  of 
Ireland,  a  man  of  education  and  parts,  who  emigrated  to 
Philadelphia  in  1772.  He  became  interested  almost  im- 
mediately in  the  Indian  trade  and  in  the  western  country. 
He  served  through  the  Revolutionary  War  and  came  to 
Pittsburgh  in  1783.  He  built  his  home  on  the  Allegheny 
above  Fort  Pitt,  in  what  was  known  as  the  "  Officer's 
Orchard."  During  the  Indian  campaigns  of  Generals 
Harmar,  St.  Clair,  and  Wayne,  he  was  a  large  army  con- 
tractor, and  in  1792  was  appointed  Quartermaster-General 
of  the  Army  of  the  United  States.  He  was  largely  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  salt,  and  he  purchased  extensive 
tracts  of  land  in  and  about  Pittsburgh  which  have  been 
the  foundations  of  several  great  fortunes  of  to-day.  Gen. 
O'Hara  was  actively  interested  in  almost  every  enterprise 
in  the  young  town,  and  was,  naturally,  one  of  its  foremost 
citizens.  He  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  died  in  1819 
surrounded  by  his  children  and  grandchildren  and  mourned 
by  the  community. 

It  is  said  that  Col.  George  Morgan  visited  Pittsburgh 
as  early  as  1763.  He,  however,  did  not  stay,  and  did  not 
return  until  he  was  appointed  by  Congress,  Indian  Agent 
and  Commissioner  for  the  Western  Department,  in  1776, 
and  stationed  at  Pittsburgh.  Despite  the  proffer  of  other 
appointments  he  continued  his  work  here,  as  his  influence 
over  the  Indians  was  very  great.  He  inherited  from  his 
brother,  Dr.  John  Morgan,  first  Surgeon-General  of  the 
United  States,  a  tract  of  land  on  Chartiers  creek,  which  he 

[  519  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

called  Morganza,  and  there  resided  until  his  death.  Here 
it  was  that  the  adventurer,  Aaron  Burr,  came  to  lay  his 
scheme  of  a  western  empire  before  Col.  Morgan,  who  im- 
mediately made  Burr's  sedition  known  to  the  government 
at  Washington.  Col.  Morgan  died  in  April  of  the  year 
1810.  His  sons  and  his  grandsons  after  him  were  eminent 
citizens. 

John  Neville,  later  Col.  Neville,  was  the  son  of  Richard 
Neville  and  his  wife,  Ann  Burroughs.  He  was  born  in 
1731  in  Virginia.  He  served  with  Washington  in  Brad- 
dock's  ill-fated  expedition;  and  also  in  "  Lord  Dunmore's 
War,"  and,  as  has  been  mentioned,  he  was  sent  by  Vir- 
ginia, in  1775,  to  take  possession  of  Fort  Pitt.  Through 
the  Revolution  he  was  Colonel  of  the  Fourth  Virginia 
Line  and  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Society  of 
the  Cincinnati.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Supreme  Executive  Council  from  November  eleventh,  1783, 
until  November  twentieth,  1786,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Pennsylvania  Convention  which  ratified  the  Federal  Con- 
stitution in  1787,  and  signed  the  ratification.  Col.  Neville 
was  chosen  by  President  Washington  and  Secretary  Hamil- 
ton to  act  as  Inspector  of  Revenue  through  that  difficult 
time,  the  Whiskey  Insurrection.  A  review  of  his  life 
reveals  the  fact  that  all  men  trusted  his  sagacity.  He  died 
in  1803.  Col.  Neville  married  Winifred  Oldham,  of  Vir- 
ginia. Their  children  were  Presley,  who  married  a 
daughter  of  Gen.  Morgan ;  Amelia,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Major  Isaac  Craig,  and  another  daughter  who  became  the 
wife  of  Major  Abraham  Kirkpatrick. 

John  Wilkins  was  born  in  1761.  As  a  boy  he  went  into 
the  Revolution  and  he  came  out  with  his  sword  and 
epaulettes,  and  then  he  came  to  Pittsburgh.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  force  and  keen  business  judgment.  He  was 
the  first  president  of  the  Pittsburgh  Branch  of  the  Bank 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  it  was  largely  due  to  his  initiative 
that  the  establishment  of  this  branch  was  accomplished. 
Gen.  John  Wilkins  died  in  1816.  William  Wilkins'  name 
has  always  reflected  honor  on  Pittsburgh.  He  was  judge, 
first  president  of  the  Bank  of  Pittsburgh,  United  States 
Senator,  Secretary  of  War,  and  Minister  to  Russia.      A 

[  520  ] 


HON.    WM.   WILKINS. 


SOME  PIONEER  MEN  AND  OTHER  MATTERS 

whole  community  is  raised  in  the  estimation  of  the  country 
when  she  produces  such  sons  as  these. 

One  of  Pittsburgh's  very  earliest  settlers  was  John 
Ormsby,  born  in  Ireland  in  1720;  emigrated  to  this  coun- 
try and  became  an  officer  in  the  army  of  Gen.  Forbes,  which 
took  Fort  Duquesne  in  1758,  where  he  remained.  As  a 
reward  for  his  military  service  he  was  granted  a^-large 
tract  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  the  Monongahela  river, 
including  the  whole  of  the  former  boroughs  of  South  Pitts- 
burgh, Birmingham,  East  Birmingham,  Ormsby,  and  the 
larger  part  of  lower  St.  Clair  township.  He  became  a 
merchant  in  this  place  and  was  prominent  in  all  progres- 
sive movements.  He  constructed  and  ran  the  first  ferry 
across  the  Monongahela  river.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
Trinity  College,  Dublin,  and  brought  with  him  to  this 
frontier  village  all  that  grace  and  elegance  of  manner 
which  told  of  cultivation  in  the  old  world.  He  married 
Jane  McAllister,  and  first  lived  on  Water  street,  afterward 
erecting  a  mansion  on  the  South  Side  at  the  head  of  what 
is  now  Twenty-seventh  street.  The  community  bears  the 
impress  of  his  character  through  his  descendants.  Many 
of  the  names  of  the  South  Side  are  derived  from  the 
Ormsby  family,  as  Mount  Oliver,  named  for  John  Ormsby 's 
only  son,  Oliver;  Mary  street  and  Sarah  street,  for  Miss 
Mary  and  Miss  Sarah  Ormsby  John  Ormsby  died  Decem- 
ber nineteenth,  1805,  and  was  buried  beside  his  wife  in 
Trinity  churchyard. 

Ebenezer  Denny  was  born  in  Carlisle  on  March  eleventh, 
1761,  being  the  oldest  child  of  William  and  Agnes  Parker 
Denny.  When  thirteen  years  of  age  he  obtained  employ- 
ment as  a  bearer  of  dispatches  to  the  Commandant  at  Fort 
Pitt.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  he  was  employed 
in  his  father's  store  at  Carlisle,  but  soon  volunteered  in 
the  Continental  Army.  His  career  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  was  notably  honorable ;  after  having  obtained 
the  rank  of  ensign  he  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy. 
During  the  campaigns  of  Generals  St.  Clair  and  Harmar 
against  the  Indians  in  1790,  he  was  Adjutant  to  Gen. 
Harmar,  and  later  Aid-de-camp  to  Gen.  St.  Clair.  After 
Major  Denny's  retirement  to  civil  life  he  married,  on  the 

[  521  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

first  of  July,  1793,  Nancy  Wilkins,  the  youngest  daughter 
of  John  Wilkins,  Sr.,  and  sister  of  William  Wilkins. 
Major  Denny  was  treasurer  of  Allegheny  county  in  1803 
and  1808,  and  was  appointed  one  of  a  board  of  nine  Alder- 
men in  1806;  and  served  on  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Branch  Bank  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  Bank  of 
Pittsburgh.  About  the  beginning  of  the  last  century  he 
engaged  in  business  in  partnership  with  Anthony  Beelen. 
During  the  War  of  1812  Major  Denny  obtained  contracts 
from  the  War  Department  to  supply  army  rations.  One 
of  these  contracts  obliged  him  to  supply  rations  at  Erie 
on  thirty  days'  notice.  After  the  surrender  of  Hull  a 
large  number  of  the  militia  were  suddenly  ordered  to 
various  points  on  the  lake.  All  the  contractors,  with  the 
exception  of  Major  Denny,  taking  advantage  of  the  clause 
in  their  contracts  which  entitled  them  to  the  thirty  days' 
notice,  made  no  attempt  to  supply  the  troops.  Major 
Denny  gave  evidence  of  his  patriotism  and  met  the  requisi- 
tion, although  he  lost  heavily  thereby.  He  was  chosen 
first  Mayor  of  Pittsburgh  in  1816.  He  died  on  the  twenty- 
first  of  July,  1822,  in  the  sixty-first  year  of  his  age.  He 
was  survived  by  three  sons,  Harmar,  William,  and  St. 
Clair,  and  two  daughters. 

James  Ross  reflected  credit  on  Pittsburgh  through  his 
service  to  the  district  as  United  States  Senator.  Alex- 
ander Addison  was  the  first  law  judge  in  Allegheny  county. 
Thoroughly  cultivated,  lovely  in  his  human  relationships 
and  of  unimpeachable  honor,  he  was  both  a  benefit  and  an 
ornament  to  society.  Nathaniel  Bedford  was  the  first 
physician  of  Pittsburgh.  He  came  to  the  town  about  1770, 
and  was  shortly  followed  by  Dr.  Thomas  Parker  and  Dr. 
George  Stevenson. 

Were  it  possible  to  go  wandering  back  down  Water 
street,  up  Front  street,  through  First,  Second  and  Third 
into  Marbury,  Hand  and  Irwin  and  tell  the  story  of  each 
man  and  woman  who  dwelt  there,  it  would  sum  up  into  a 
catalogue  those  sterling  virtues  of  endurance  and  patience 
and  foresight,  of  kindliness  and  generosity  which  lent 
enduring  stability  to  the  frontier  town  and  which  laid  the 
foundations  of  a  great  city. 

[  522  ] 


HON.    EEENEZER    DENNY,    FIRST    MAYOR    OF    PITTSBURGH. 


SOME  PIONEER  MEN  AND  OTHER  MATTERS 

It  is  an  interesting  incident  to  remember  that,  about  1796, 
the  Duke  of  Orleans,  later  Louis  XVIII.,  King  of  the 
French,  accompanied  by  his  two  brothers,  the  Dukes  of 
Montpensier  and  Beaujolais,  came  to  the  little  town.  They 
were  the  guests  of  Gen.  Neville  to  whom  they  became  very 
much  attached.  Watson,  in  his  ''  Annals,"  records  this 
visit  at  length  and  notes  the  charm  of  the  conversation  of 
the  Duke  of  Orleans  and  speaks  of  the  young  and  interest- 
ing Beaujolais. 

Two  men,  father  and  son,  who  were  active  beyond  the 
ordinary  in  the  little  community,  were  Judge  H.  H. 
Brackenridge  and  his  son,  Judge  H.  M.  Brackenridge. 
Both  were  men  of  literary  attainment.  The  Gazette  con- 
tributions of  the  elder  Brackenridge  are  given  in  part  in 
this  volume,  and  it  is  due  to  the  volume  entitled  "  Recol- 
lections of  the  West,"  of  the  second  Judge  Brackenridge, 
that  it  is  possible  to  form  a  picture  of  Pittsburgh  as  it 
was  then : 

"  Pittsburgh  when  I  first  knew  it  was  but  a  village. 
Two  plains,  partly  short  commons,  depastured  by  the  town 
cows,  embraced  the  foot  of  Grant's  Hill,  one  extending  a 
short  distance  up  the  Monongahela,  the  other  stretching 
up  the  Allegheny  river;  while  the  town  of  straggling 
houses,  easily  counted,  and  more  of  logs  than  frame,  and 
more  of  the  latter  than  of  brick  or  stone,  lay  from  the 
junction  along  the  Monongahela.  On  the  bank  of  the 
Allegheny,  at  the  distance  of  a  long  Sunday  afternoon's 
walk,  stood  Fort  Fayette,  surmounted  by  the  stars  and 
stripes  of  the  old  thirteen,  and  from  this  place  the  King's 
Orchard  or  garden  extended  to  the  ditch  of  old  Fort  Pitt, 
the  name  by  which  the  little  town  was  then  known.  On 
the  north  side  of  the  river  just  mentioned,  the  hills  rose 
rude  and  rough,  without  the  smoke  of  a  single  chimney  to 
afford  a  rhyme  to  the  muse  of  Tom  Moore.  The  clear  and 
beautiful  Allegheny,  the  loveliest  stream  that  ever  glistened 
to  the  moon,  gliding  over  its  polished  pebbles,  being  the 
Ohio,  or  La  Belle  Riviere,  under  a  different  name,  was  still 
the  boundary  of  civilization;  for  all  beyond  it  was  called 
the  Indian  country,  and  associated  in  the  mind  with  many 
a  fireside  tale  of  scalping-knife,  hairbreadth  escapes,  and 

[  523  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

all  the  horrors  of  savage  warfare.  On  the  Monongahela 
side  the  hills  rose  from  the  water's  edge  to  the  height  of  a 
mountain,  with  some  two  or  three  puny  houses  squeezed 
in  between  it  and  the  river.  On  its  summit  stood  the 
farmhouse  and  barn  of  Major  Kirkpatrick.  The  barn  was 
burnt  down  by  the  heroes  of  the  Whiskey  Insurrection,  and 
this  happening  in  the  night,  threw  a  light  over  the  town 
across  the  river,  so  brilliant  that  one  might  see  to  pick  up 
a  pin  on  the  street.    *    *    * 

' '  To  the  east  —  for  I  am  now  supposed  to  be  standing 
on  the  brow  of  Grant's  Hill  —  the  ground  was  particularly 
picturesque,  and  beautifully  diversified  with  hill  and  dale, 
having  undergone  some  little  change  from  the  state  of 
nature.  The  hill  (Grant's)  was  the  favorite  promenade  in 
fine  weather  and  on  Sunday  afternoon.  It  was  pleasing 
to  see  the  line  of  well-dressed  ladies  and  gentlemen  and 
children,  nearly  the  whole  population,  repairing  to  this 
beautiful  green  eminence.  It  was  considered  so  essential 
to  the  conifort  and  recreation  of  the  inhabitants  that  they 
could  scarcely  imagine  how  a  town  could  exist  without  its 
Grant's  Hill.  *  *  *  j  have  not  yet  completed  my  sketch 
of  the  appearance  of  the  place  in  the  olden  time,  and  should 
consider  it  extremely  imperfect  if  I  were  to  say  nothing 
of  the  race-course,  to  which  the  plain  or  common  between 
it  (Grant's  Hill)  and  the  Allegheny  was  appropriated. 

''At  the  time  to  which  I- allude,  the  plain  was  entirely 
unencumbered  by  buildings  or  inclosures,  excepting  the 
Dutch  Church,  corner  of  Sixth  avenue  and  Smithfield 
(which  still  occupies  the  same  site),  which  stood  aloof 
from  the  haunts  of  man,  unless  at  those  times  when  it  was 
forced  to  become  the  center  of  the  hippodrome.  And  the 
races  —  shall  we  say  nothing  of  that  obsolete  recreation? 
It  was  then  an  affair  of  all-engrossing  interest,  and  every 
business  or  pursuit  was  neglected  during  their  continuance. 
The  whole  town  was  daily  poured  forth  to  witness  the 
Olympian  games,  many  of  all  ages  and  sexes  as  spectators, 
and  many  more,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  interested  in 
a  hundred  different  ways.  The  plain  within  the  course, 
and  near  it,  was  filled  with  booths,  as  at  a  fair,  where  every- 
thing was  said  and  done,  and  sold  and  eaten  or  drunk  — 

[  524  ] 


SOME    PIONEER    MEN   AND    OTHER    MATTERS 

where  every  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  there  was  a  rush  to 
some  part  to  witness  a  fisticuff,  where  dogs  barked  and  bit, 
and  horses  trod  on  men's  toes,  and  booths  fell  down  on 
people's  heads!    *    *    *     " 

Judge  Brackenridge  further  mentions  that  before  his 
time  "  Black  Charles  "  ''  kept  the  first  hotel  in  the  place;  " 
that  contemporary  with  his  earliest  recollections  the  sign 
of  ^'  General  Butler,"  kept  by  Patrick  Murphy,  had  the 
distinction  of  being  the  principal  tavern.  According  to 
the  same  writer,  the  sign  of  "  General  Butler  "  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  "  Green  Tree,"  situated  on  the  bank  of 
the  Monongahela,  and  kept  by  William  Morrow.  In  the 
early  numbers  of  the  Gazette,  advertisements  of  taverns 
were  numerous ;  this  quaint  announcement  appeared : 

*'  The  subscriber  takes  this  method  of  returning  his 
sincere  thanks  to  those  of  his  friends  who  have  been  pleased 
to  honor  his  house  with  their  company  and  hopes  for  a 
continuance  of  their  favor  and  the  public  in  general.  Hav- 
ing provided  every  necessary  convenience  for  the  accom- 
modation of  man  and  horse.  As  the  Pittsburgh  races  will 
soon  commence  he  thinks  it  a  duty  incumbent  upon  him  to 
acquaint  such  of  his  friends  who  mean  to  attend  that 
polite  amusement  that  no  endeavor  shall  be  wanting  on  his 
part  which  may  tend  to  their  satisfaction. 

''  September  twentieth,  1786." 

Gen.  John  Wilkins  complained  in  his  diary  that,  although 
there  were  a  number  of  respectable  families  residing  in 
the  Pittsburgh  of  1786,  still  the  majority  were  more  in- 
clined to  interest  themselves  in  horse  racing,  etc.,  than  to 
contribute  to  the  building  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  Pittsburgh  Gazette  of  September  fifth,  1786, 
contained  the  first  record  of  a  horse  race  in  this  place;  it 
read: 

' '  Pittsburgh  races  will  commence  on  Thursday,  the  nine- 
teenth of  October  next,  when  a  purse  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  dollars  will  be  run  for.  Free  for  any  horse,  mare 
or  gelding,  carrying  weight  for  age  —  that  is,  a  horse  of 
seven  years  to  carry  ten  stone  with  a  deduction  of  seven 
pound  weight  for  each  year  he  or  they  shall  be  under. 

[  525  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Three  mile  heats.  Entrance  five  dollars.  On  Saturday 
the  twenty-first  will  be  run  a  sweepstake  composed  of  the 
entrance  money.  The  horses  to  start  precisely  at  one 
o'clock  each  day.  No  iockey  will  be  permitted  to  ride 
unless  he  has  some  genteel  jockey  habits." 

Horse  racing  was  indeed  one  of  the  favorite  amuse- 
ments of  the  early  days.  The  first  track  was  on  the  then 
unoccupied  plain  now  covered  by  parts  of  Smithfield  and 
Liberty  streets  and  Penn  avenue,  not  far  from  the  present 
site  of  the  Union  Station.  It  was  advertised  in  October, 
1800,  that  a  purse  of  sixty  dollars  was  to  be  run  for,  ' '  over 
the  course  in  Pittsburgh,"  and  it  was  announced  in  that 
same  month  that  ' '  races  will  be  sported  for  on  the  turf  at 
McKee's  Port."  Later  there  was  a  course  at  ''  Two  Mile 
Run,"  and  on  the  farm  known  as  the  Bullock  Pens,  six 
miles  east  of  Pittsburgh,  the  ground  lying  along  what  is 
now  Penn  avenue,  between  Homewood  and  Braddock 
avenues. 

The  cultivated  and  active  men  who  lived  in  the  isolated 
little  hamlet  of  Pittsburgh  during  the  end  of  the  eighteenth 
and  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  centuries,  when  there 
were  no  railroads  or  telegraphs,  and  the  mails  were  not 
frequent,  were  compelled  to  look  to  themselves  for  their 
amusements  and  intellectual  progress.  They  made  merry 
together  and  openly  endeavored  to  help  with  the  sorrows 
and  trials  of  others.  In  the  primitive,  or  at  least  more 
simple  way  of  living,  there  may  have  been  a  solace  in  life, 
begotten  of  the  trust  and  friendship  which  is  lost  in  the 
hurried  society  of  to-day,  with  its  artificial  aloofness. 

There  is  no  list  extant  of  the  members  of  the  Pittsburgh 
Mechanical  Society,  but  in  the  Gazette  of  May  second,  1789, 
the  members  ' '  are  requested  to  attend  their  monthly  meet- 
ing on  Monday  evening  at  seven  o'clock,  at  the  house  of 
Colonel  Tannehill."  There  is  no  record  of  its  beginning 
or  of  its  discontinuance,  but  on  the  third  of  June,  1803,  by 
order  of  the  president,  Z.  Cramer,  the  secretary,  gave 
notice  that  a  ''  meeting  will  be  held  at  the  usual  time  and 
place  on  Monday  next,  and  a  punctual  attendance  is 
expected. ' ' 

The  winter  of  1811  and  1812  was  varied  by  a  course  of 

[  526  ] 


SOME   PIONEER   MEN   AND    OTHER   MATTERS 

lectures  on  chemistry,  delivered  by  Dr.  Aigster.  It  was, 
perhaps,  out  of  this  series  of  lectures  by  Dr.  Aigster  that 
the  '  *  Chemical  and  Physiological  Society  ' '  grew,  the  mem- 
bers of  which  were  requested  to  "  meet  at  A.  M.  Bolton's, 
Academy  Hall,  Market  street,  on  Friday,  October  twenty- 
ninth,  1813,  at  six  o'clock,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
the  institution  and  electing  officers."  The  society  lived 
long  enough,  at  any  rate,  to  hold  an  anniversary : 

**At  the  anniversary  meeting  of  the  Chemical  and 
Physiological  Society,  held  on  Thursday  the  tenth  ultimo, 
the  following  gentlemen  were  elected  officers  for  the  en- 
suing year :  President,  Walter  Forward,  Esq. ;  Treasurer, 
Samuel  Pettigrew ;  Librarian,  Lewis  Peterson ;  Lecturer  on 
Chemistry,  Dr.  B.  Troost;  Botany,  M.  M.  Murray;  Anat- 
omy, Dr.  Joel  Lewis;  Mineralogy,  Dr.  Aigster;  Astronomy 
and  Natural  Philosophy,  Joseph  Patterson;  Annalist,  A, 
M.  Bolton;  Annual  Orator,  J.  B.  Trevor.  The  members 
of  the  society  are  particularly  requested  to  attend  at  their 
hall  on  Thursday  evening  next  at  seven  o'clock,  for  the 
purpose  of  enacting  rules  and  by-laws,  agreeably  to  the 
new  constitution.  Dr.  Troost  will  deliver  a  lecture  on 
oxygen  gas  accompanied  with  several  interesting  experi- 
ments. 

'^  By  order  of  the  Society, 

^'  H.  Denny, 

"  Secretary. 

"November  fifteenth,  1814." 

There  was  still  another  notice  concerning  it,  in  which  a 
lecture  was  mentioned  on  the  "  singular  properties  and 
effects  of  the  nitrous-oxide,  or,  as  it  is  sometimes  called, 
the  exhilarating  gas,  on  Friday,  February  twenty-fifth, 
1814." 

Rev.  Mr.  Taylor  delivered  a  course  of  lectures  on 
astronomy  in  the  Long  Room  in  the  garrison,  beginning 
on  the  eighteenth  of  January,  1812.  The  terms  were  five 
dollars  per  quarter. 

Then  there  was  the  Franklin  Society,  without  a  date  of 
beginning  or  ending  now,  but  noticed  in  the  papers  of 

[  527  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

October,  1813,  and  on  the  fourth  of  July,  1814,  ^'  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Franklin  Society  and  some  other  young  gentle- 
men of  the  town,  having  assembled  to  celebrate  the  fourth 
of  July,  Mr.  James  McRea  was  elected  president  of  the 
day,  and  Mr.  William  Robinson,  vice-president.  An  oration 
having  been  delivered  by  one  of  the  members,  they  partook 
of  an  elegant  dinner,  and  after  the  cloth  was  removed  the 
toasts  were  drunk." 

H.  M.  Braekenridge  further  stated  in  his  ^'  Recollections 
of  the  West, ' '  that ' '  the  better  class  of  society  in  the  early 
time  occasionally  endeavored  to  amuse  themselves  with 
amateur  theatricals.  The  large  room  in  the  court  house  was 
fitted  up  as  a  theatre  and  several  hundred  dollars  expended 
to  bring  music  from  Philadelphia.  The  majority  of  the 
dramatis  personce,  were  young  law  students,  among  them, 
William  Wilkins,  Morgan  Neville,  Greorge  Wallace,  and 
Thomas  Butler." 

The  upper  hall  of  the  court  house  was  used  not  only  by 
amateurs,  but  by  the  professionals.  Taverns,  too,  were 
made  to  serve  as  pioneer  theatres,  William  Irwin's  third 
story  on  the  east  corner  of  the  Diamond,  also  William  Mor- 
row's, on  the  corner  of  Wood  and  Fourth  streets.  The 
Pittsburgh  Gazette  of  January  twentieth,  1803,  contained 
the  following  announcement : 

''  Theatrical  Entertainment. 

''  This  evening,  at  7  o'clock,  will  be  performed,  at  the 
Court  House,  the  Comedy  of  Trick  upon  Trick;  also  the 
farce  of  The  Jealous  Husband  or  The  Lawyer  in  the 
Sack,  the  whole  to  conclude  with  a  pantomime  of  The 
Sailor's  Landlady  or  Jack  in  Distress,  with  songs,  etc., 
etc.,  etc. 

"  Tickets  to  be  had  at  Mr.  Reed's  Tavern.  Doors  will  be 
open  at  half  past  six  o'clock,  and  the  performance  will  begin 
precisely  at  7  o'clock. 

' '  Messrs.  Bromly  &  Arnold  respectfully  inform  the  pub- 
lic that  they  intend  performing  for  a  few  weeks  in  this 
Borough,  on  the  evenings  of  Tuesday  and  Friday  of  each 
week." 

[  528  ] 


SOME    PIONEER    MEN    AND    OTHER   MATTERS 

During  the  ensuing  years  the  various  newspapers,  The 
Gazette,  the  Commonwealth,  and  The  Tree  of  Liberty,  con- 
tinued to  advertise  theatrical  performances  to  be  given  in 
the  court  house,  and  in  the  taverns,  but  in  the  Pittsburgh 
Gazette,  of  May  seventh,  1812,  this  notice  appeared : 

"  New  Theatre. 

' '  The  subscribers  to  the  theatre  are  requested  to  pay  Mr. 
Isaac  Roberts,  box  office  keeper,  the  amount  of  one  third  of 
the  season  tickets.  The  remainder  will  be  called  for  in  two 
payments,  one  on  Monday,  May  twenty-fifth,  and  the  last 
on  Monday,  June  eighth.    "William  Turner  and  Company." 

It  is  generally  believed  that  the  first  theatre  was  built 
between  the  years  1817  and  1820,  under  the  direction  of 
Charles  Weidner,  but  it  is  evident  from  contemporaneous 
advertising  that  there  was  a  theatre  as  early  as  the  Spring 
of  1812.  Further  evidence  of  the  actuality  of  this  theatre 
is  shown  in  the  following  notice : 

"  To  BE  Sold,  one  moiety  or  half  part  of  the  Pitts- 
burgh Theatre  with  the  scenery,  decorations,  embellish- 
ments, etc.  From  the  receipts  of  the  theatre,  it  holds  out  a 
prospect  of  being  a  very  valuable  property  to  a  purchaser. 
A  considerable  deduction  will  be  made  in  the  consideration 
money  for  cash.  Apply  to  J.  Montefiore,  Conveyancer, 
Diamond  alley,  or  to  Isaac  Roberts,  near  the  Theatre. 
Pittsburgh  Gazette,  November  eighteenth,  1813." 

And  in  another  advertisement  of  September  fourth  of 
the  same  year:  ''  The  proprietors  of  the  theatre  are  happy 
to  announce  to  the  public  the  engagement  of  Mr.  Webster 
for  three  nights  only." 

The  notices  quoted,  and  others  that  may  be  found  in 
extant  copies  of  the  newspapers,  seem  sufficient  to  prove 
the  ' '  first  theatre  ' '  to  have  been  built  several  years  earlier 
than  the  hitherto  accepted  date. 

The  list  of  plays  produced  was  wide  in  its  range,  from 
the  tragedies  of  Shakespeare  to  the  veriest  farce.  The 
Pittsburgh  Theatre  followed  the  old  English  custom  of 
accompanying  the  drama  with  a  farce;  the  delightful  in- 
congruity of  the  entertainment  is  shown  in  this  excerpt 
from  the  Gazette: 

34  [  529  ] 


THE   HISTOEY    OF   PITTSBURGH 

* '  Shakespeare  and  Colman. 

"  Positively  the  very  last  night. 

"  Theatre. 

"  Mr.  W.  Turner,  grateful  for  the  general  support  given 
Mrs.  Turner,  respectfully  solicits  the  attendance  of  the 
patrons  of  the  drama,  assuring  them  that  it  has  been  his 
study  to  render  the  theatre  as  deserving  of  encouragement 
as  he  possibly  could.  He  has  selected  for  their  gratification 
a  play  and  farce,  written  by  the  most  celebrated  authors; 
which  from  their  celebrity  in  England  and  America  de- 
servedly claim  their  attention.  On  Monday  evening,  March 
thirteenth,  will  be  presented  Shakespeare's  universally  ad- 
mired tragedy  in  five  Acts,  called, 

"  King  Lear 
' '  and  his  three  daughters. 

*'  King  Lear  Mr.  Collins. 

'*  Cordelia  Mrs.  Turner. 

"  Goneril  Barrett. 

"  Eegan  Miss  Greer. 

' '  After  the  play  comic  songs  by  Mr.  Morgan ;  after  which 
a  very  popular  opera  written  by  Colman,  the  younger,  called 
'  Inkle  and  Yartco,  or  Love  in  A  Cave.'  To  conclude 
with  the  farewell  address  written  for  the  occasion  to  be 
spoken  by  Mrs.  Barrett.  In  order  that  the  performance 
may  be  over  at  a  reasonable  hour  the  curtain  will  rise  posi- 
tively at  quarter  before  seven  o'clock,  March  11,  1815." 

In  a  community  where  Scotch  Presbyterianism  predomi- 
nated, it  was  not  to  be  expected  that  the  stage  was  looked 
upon  with  too  much  favor.  This  feeling  was  doubtless  a 
formidable  obstacle  to  financial  success,  and  it  was  probably 
an  effort  to  overcome  these  scruples  that  prompted  the 
'^  Thespian  Society  "  to  announce  in  the  Gazette,  of  Janu- 
ary fourteenth,  1817,  that  "  the  Theatre  in  this  city  is  now 
open  for  the  double  purpose  of  gratifying  the  public  taste 
by  a  moral  and  rational  amusement,  and  adding  to  the  funds 
of  the  Male  Charitable  Sunday  School.    '  The  Man  of  Forti- 

[  530  ] 


PITTSBURGH'S    FIEST    THEATRE    AND    THE    OLD    DRURY    THEATRE. 


SOME    PIONEER    MEN   AND    OTHER    MATTERS 

tude  '  and  the  farce  of  '  The  Review  '  have  been  selected  for 
representation  this  evening.  Since  society  has  been  re- 
leased from  the  chains  of  superstition,  the  propriety  of 
theatric  amusements  has  not  been  doubted  by  any  man  of 
liberal  feelings  and  enlightened  understanding.  If  the 
maxim  of  Seneca  '  that  a  virtuous  man  struggling  with  mis- 
fortunes and  bearing  them  with  fortitude  is  a  spectacle 
upon  which  the  gods  may  look  down  with  pleasure  '  be  true, 
the  representation  of  such  a  scene  cannot  be  unimproving 
to  the  mind.  The  stage  conveys  a  moral  in  colors  more 
vivid  than  the  awful  and  elevated  station  of  the  preacher 
permits  him  to  use,  it  is  his  coadjutor  in  good  and  goes  with 
him  hand  in  hand  in  exposing  vice  to  ridicule  and  honoring 
virtue. ' ' 

At  this  time  the  histrionic  "  Trust  "  was  a  thing  of  the 
future,  and  every  theatre  was  not  only  owned  by  those  that 
managed  it,  but  usually  had  its  own  stock  company.  Time 
has  long  since  effaced  the  fame  of  the  early  performers  on 
the  Pittsburgh  stage.  The  only  tribute  that  can  be  paid  to 
these  pioneers  is  simply  to  record  their  names.  During  the 
first  years  of  the  Pittsburgh  Theatre,  Mrs.  Turner  was  the 
"  leading  lady,"  that  is  to  say,  from  about  1812  to  1816; 
among  others  were :  Miss  Emily  Tempest,  Miss  Greer, 
Mrs.  Barrett,  Mr.  Collins  (who  appears  to  have  been  ''  lead- 
ing man  "),  Mr.  A.  Williams,  and  Mr.  Cargill. 

On  Monday,  September  second,  1833,  the  theatre  known 
as  "  Old  Drury  "  was  opened.  It  occupied  the  ground  that 
is  now  306  and  310  Fifth  avenue.  The  architect  was  John 
Haviland.  The  scenery  was  painted  by  J.  R.  Smith,  and  the 
stage  machinery  was  under  the  supervision  of  Stafford  & 
Hoffman,  of  Philadelphia.  The  building  was  erected  by 
Messrs.  Roseburg,  Reynolds,  Scott,  and  McCullough.  The 
following  description  of  the  theatre  appeared  in  the  Mes- 
senger of  1833 : 

"  The  Pittsburgh  Theatre  is  a  neat  two-story  building, 
the  front  is  57  feet,  depth  130.  The  interior  of  this  theatre 
is  arranged  to  combine  the  greatest  degree  of  elegance  and 
convenience.  And  will  safely  vie  with  any  other  in  the 
Union.  The  boxes,  which  are  of  two  tiers,  are  of  rose  color, 
ornamented  with  gold  work,  bearing  a  shield  upon  which  are 

[  531  ] 


THE    HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

emblazoned  the  arms  of  the  United  States.  The  seats  are 
covered  with  crimson,  edged  with  velvet  and  handsomel}' 
studded  with  brass  nails.  The  theatre  is  lighted  witli 
eighteen  splendid  chandeliers  hung  at  proper  intervals. 
The  proscenium  represents  the  Pennsylvania  arms,  and 
there  are  splendid  draperies  about  the  stage  doors  and  the 
salons  which  are  extensive  and  spacious.  The  scenery, 
painted  by  J.  R.  Smith,  is  of  the  most  magnificent  descrip- 
tion, and  the  wardrobes  are  all  new  and  convenient. ' '  When 
the  building  was  taken  down  in  1870,  it  was  then  said  that  it 
had  stood  remarkably  well,  and  that  there  was  not  one 
place  of  amusement  in  the  city  that  was  as  safe  and  easy  of 
speedy  exit  in  case  of  danger,  as  was  this  old  Pittsburgh 
theatre.  There  were,  all  told,  five  doors  of  entrance;  over 
the  three  central  doors  hung  an  iron  balcony,  upon  which 
were  a  number  of  lamp  posts.  The  announcement  of  the 
opening  of  the  theatre  also  stated  that  ' '  a  first  class  Lon- 
don artist  had  been  engaged  for  the  last  three  months  in 
procuring  and  perfecting  the  wardrobe,  which  shall  equal, 
if  not  exceed,  that  of  any  eastern  theatre.  The  managers 
have  engaged  the  eminent  tragedian,  Mr.  Edwin  Forrest, 
also  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hilson,  Miss  Clara  Fisher,  Mrs.  Knight, 
Mr.  J.  R.  Scott,  and  Mr.  Parslowe,  of  the  Covent  Garden 
Theatre,  London.  The  management  desires  to  raise  the 
genius  and  mend  the  heart,  show  virtue  her  features  and 
vice  her  own  image  and  the  body  of  the  times  his  form  and 
presence."  The  announcement  was  signed  by  Francis  E. 
Wemyss. 

There  were  two  theatres  in  1860;  the  Pittsburgh  Opera 
House,  now  the  Grand,  was  built  in  1871 ;  in  1877,  the 
Academy  was  opened  as  a  theatre  by  Henry  Williams;  in 
1875,  the  Bijou;  the  Duquesne  opened  in  1890;  in  1891,  the 
Alvin,  built  by  Charles  L.  Davis,  was  opened;  1895,  the 
Empire,  in  the  East  End;  the  Nixon  opened,  in  1903,  and 
in  1904,  the  Gayety. 

From  1800  to  1820,  almost  every  newspaper  contained  the 
announcement  of  some  "  professor  "  of  dancing.  The 
teachers  of  dancing  often  combined  with  it  instruction  in 
drawing,  painting,  music  and  French.  As  for  instance,  Mr. 
Boudet,  ''  formerly  of  Paris,  and  lately  of  Philadelphia," 

[  532  ] 


SOME    PIONEER    MEN    AND    OTHER   MATTERS 

respectfully  tendered  his  services  as  professor  of  dancing, 
drawing  and  painting,  and  announced  that  he  was  the  bearer 
of  several  letters  of  introduction  to  respectable  houses  in 
Pittsburgh,  as  well  as  testimonials  from  conspicuous  char- 
acters in  the  State,  and  the  Union,  which  he  deemed  suffi- 
cient to  establish  his  claim  to  public  patronage.  His  charges 
for  instruction  in  each  branch  were  ten  dollars,  in  addition 
to  an  entrance  fee  of  five  dollars  tor  beginners  in 
dancing.  All  this  being  bat  one  phase  of  this  busy,  restless 
town. 

William  Evans  must  be  remembered  for  his  musical 
services.  He  taught  the  children  music  and  he  gave  the 
first  sacred  concert  in  Pittsburgh,  in  Dr.  Herron's  church, 
in  1818.  He  organized  various  choirs  and  a  number  of 
musical  societies.  Perhaps  it  is  of  his  sowing  that  to-day 
we  reap  the  benefit  in  that  organization,  the  Pittsburgh 
Orchestra. 

The  first  Historical  Society  was  organized  in  1834,  with 
Mr.  Thomas  Bakewell  as  president.  It,  however,  languished 
and  expired.  Its  legitimate  successor  was  the  Historical 
Society  of  Western  Pennsylvania,  founded  in  1877,  and 
chartered  in  1888.  The  design  of  this  society  is  the  preser- 
vation of  the  early  local  histoiy  of  this  section.  Father 
A.  A.  Lambing,  LL.D.,  is  the  president.  Pittsburgh  is 
deeply  in  his  debt  for  he  has  done  valuable  work  in  pre- 
serving her  scattered  archives.  Those  few  people  who  have 
been  of  service  in  this  particular  line  are :  The  Bracken- 
ridges,  father  and  son,  the  Craigs,  father  and  son,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  William  Darlington,  Judge  Veech,  and  George  H. 
Thurston. 

In  speaking  of  the  efforts  of  the  Historical  Society  of 
Western  Pennsylvania,  and  the  endeavor  to  keep  those 
things  which  became  of  historical  value,  there  is  here  listed 
the  original  names  of  the  streets,  which  now  are  merely 
denominated  First,  Second,  Third.  Tlie  only  possible  ex- 
cuse that  can  be  offered  for  the  losing  of  these  historical 
suggestions  in  street  names  is,  that  in  the  consolidation 
which  took  place  in  1867,  the  city  fathers  declared  that  there 
was  much  duplication  in  the  names  and,  therefore,  a  change 
to  numerals  was  necessary. 

[  533  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

Point  street,  now  First  street. 
Duquesne  street,  now  Second  street. 
Marbury  street,  now  Third  street. 
Hay  street,  now  Fourth  street. 
Pitt  street,  now  Fifth  street. 
St.  Clair  street,  now  Sixth  street. 
Irwin  street,  now  Seventh  street. 
Hancock  street,  now  Eighth  street. 
Hand  street,  now  Ninth  street. 
Wayne  street,  now  Tenth  street. 
Canal  street,  now  Eleventh  street. 
O'Hara  street,  now  Twelfth  street. 
Walnut  street,  now  Thirteenth  street. 
Factory  street,  now  Fourteenth  street. 
Adams  street,  now  Fifteenth  street. 
Mechanics  street,  now  Sixteenth  street. 
Harrison  street,  now  Seventeenth  street. 
Pine  street,  now  Eighteenth  street. 
Locust  street,  now  Ninteenth  street. 
Carson  street,  now  Twentieth  street. 
Allegheny  street,  now  Twenty-first  street. 
Lumber  street,  now  Twenty-second  street. 
Carroll  street,  now  Twenty-third  street. 
Wilkins  street,  now  Twenty-fourth  street. 
Baldwin  street,  now  Twenty-fifth  street. 
Morris  street,  now  Twenty-sixth  street. 
Rush  street,  now  Twenty-seventh  street. 
Morton  street,  now  Twenty-eighth  street. 
Clymer  street,  now  Twenty-ninth  street. 
Smith  street,  now  Thirtieth  street. 
Taylor  street,  now  Thirty-first  street. 
Wilson  street,  now  Thirty-second  street. 
Boundary  street,  now  Thirty-third  street. 
Johnson  street,  now  Thirty-fourth  street. 
Lawrence  street,  now  Thirty-fifth  street. 
Wainwright  street,  now  Thirty-sixth  street. 
Dravo  street,  now  Thirty-seventh  street. 
Allen  street,  now  Thirty-eighth  street. 
Pike  street,  now  Thirty-ninth  street. 
Covington  street,  now  Fortieth  street. 
Fisk  street,  now, Forty-first  street. 
Borough  street,  now  Forty-second  street. 
Chestnut  street,  now  Forty-third  street. 
Ewalt  street,  now  Forty-fourth  street. 
Bellefontaine  street,  now  Forty-fifth  street. 
St.  Mary's  avenue,  now  Forty-sixth  street. 
Church  street,  now  Forty-seventh  street. 
Schoenberger  street,  now  Forty-eighth  street. 
Mill  street,  now  Forty-ninth  street. 
Lothrop  street,  now  Fiftieth  street. 
Jackson  street,  now  Fifty-first  street. 
First  street,  now  First  avenue. 
Second  street,  now  Second  avenue. 

[  534  ] 


SOME   PIONEER   MEN   AND    OTHER   MATTERS 

Third  street,  now  Third  avenue. 

Fifth  street,  now  Fifth  avenue  (including  extension). 
Sixth  street,  now  Sixth  avenue. 
Seventh  street,  now  Seventh  avenue. 
Butler,  Ninth  Ward,  now  Railroad  street. 

Old  Pennsylvania   avenue,  from  Try   street  to  Fifth  avenue,  to  be 
called  "  Old  Avenue." 

Peach  alley,  Third  Ward,  now  Hickory. 

Ewalt  street,  Pitt  township,  now  Birch. 

Chestnut,  Lawrenceville,  now  Maple. 

Fisk,  Seventh  Ward,  now  Arch. 

Irwin,  Lawrenceville,  now  Buckeye. 

Locust,  Fifth  Ward,  now  Juniata. 

Mulberry  alley,  Lawrenceville,  now  Blackberry  alley. 

Plum  alley.  Third  Ward,  now  Oak  alley. 

Pike,  Lawrenceville,  now  Garrison. 

Peach  alley.  Eighth  Ward,  now  Quince. 

Reed,  Lawrenceville,  now  Race. 

Spruce  alley,  Lawrenceville,  now  Hemlock  alley. 

Union  alley,  Lawrenceville,  now  Ash  alley. 

Union  alley,  Sixth  Ward,  now  Crab  alley. 

Webster  street,  Pittsburgh,  now  Webster  avenue. 

Decatur  street.  First  Ward,  now  Hazel  street. 

Lower  Washington  street,  Lawrenceville,  now  Hatfield. 

Upper  Washington  street,  Lawrenceville,  now  Willow  street. 

The  Pittsburgh  Institute  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  incorpo- 
rated in  1838,  may  perhaps  bear  the  same  general  relation- 
ship to  the  Academy  of  Science  and  Art,  with  Mr.  James  I. 
Buchanan  as  president,  that  the  first  Historical  Society  did 
to  the  present  one. 

The  Art  Society  was  incorporated  in  1873,  and  has  been 
a  great  force  in  the  development  of  the  community.  *'  The 
high  purpose  of  the  founders  of  the  Art  Society  has  never 
been  departed  from;  where,  before,  a  few  were  gathered 
together  to  hear  the  songs  of  Schubert  and  the  piano-forte 
music  of  Mendelssohn  and  Beethoven,  there  is  now  the 
Pittsburgh  Orchestra  and  Wagner;  and  the  last  word 
from  the  prophet  of  the  twenty-first  century,  Richard 
Strauss.  The  scattered  pictures  in  our  homes,  studied  and 
loved  by  the  few,  have  brought  forth  the  Carnegie  Art 
Galleries.  In  this  earnest  work  the  Art  Society  is  both 
parent  and  guide. ' ' 

The  Mozart  Club,  organized  in  1878,  has  had  a  con- 
tinuous existence  and  has  educated  the  people  in  oratorio 
music.     But  long  before  the  day  of  the  Mozart  Club,  Jenny 

[  535  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Lind  had  cliarmed  her  listeners,  and  Stephen  Foster  had 
brought  tears  to  many  eyes  with  the  strange  pathos  of  his 
simple  melodies.  Stephen  C.  Foster  was  born  in  Pitts- 
burgh, July  fourth,  1826,  in  the  old  homestead  at  the  junc- 
tion of  Butler  and  Thirty-fourth  streets.  Very  early  his 
genius  —  for  it  was  truly  genius,  became  evident.  When  he 
was  sixteen  he  wrote  "  Open  Thy  Lattice,  Love."  In 
1848  he  went  to  Cincinnati  to  become  a  bookkeeper,  and 
continued  to  write  his  wonderful  songs,  which  are  practi- 
cally the  folk-music  of  the  black  race.  While  he  was  in 
Cincinnati  he  wrote  "  Oh  Susannah  "  and  *'  Old  Uncle 
Ned,"  which  he  gave  to  Mr.  W.  C.  Peters,  who  made  ten 
thousand  dollars  out  of  them.  Then  Foster  returned  to 
Pittsburgh  and  wrote  *'  Nelly  was  a  Lady."  He  married 
Miss  Jane  D.  McDowell,  and  the  same  year  entered  into  a 
contract  with  Frish,  Pond  and  Company,  of  New  York, 
for  the  publication  of  all  his  writings  with  a  royalty  of 
three  cents  per  copy,  Pittsburgh  seems  to  have  been  his 
load-star,  for  he  very  shortly  came  again  and  wrote  his 
"  Old  Folks  at  Home."  Then  "  Old  Dog  Tray,"  and 
''  My  Old  Kentucky  Home,"  and  "  Massa's  in  the  Cold, 
Cold  Ground."  All  these  songs  are  the  epitome  of  music, 
utterly  melodious  though  simple,  and  the  whole  of  his  life 
seems  to  have  been  a  reflex  from  these  simple  ditties.  He 
died  in  New  York  in  1864,  and  was  brought  home  to  be 
buried,  with  honor,  by  his  fellow-townsmen,  who  have 
always  thoroughly  appreciated  his  talent,  and  by  whom  a 
monument  was  erected  in  one  of  the  public  parks  in  the 
Autumn  of  1900,  when  they  declared  him  to  be  the  nation's 
greatest  song  writer. 

Also,  two  of  the  Nevin  family  are  among  Pittsburgh's 
best  representatives  in  music.  Ethelbert  Nevin 's  music  is 
known  over  two  continents,  and  Arthur  Nevin  is  now  gain- 
ing recognition  outside  his  own  precinct. 

As  early  as  1834  an  attempt  was  made  by  Dr.  James 
Spear,  Stephen  Colwell,  and  John  Chislett  to  establish  a 
rural  cemetery.  This,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  a  pioneer 
movement  in  this  direction,  as  in  the  entire  country  then,  and 
for  many  years  thereafter,  there  were  only  three  general 
cemeteries.     People  buried  in  churchyards  and  in  family 

[  536  ] 


STEPHEN   FOSTER,  AUTHOR  OF  "  SUWANEE  EIVER  "'  AXD  OTHER  SONGS. 


SOME    PIONEER    MEN   AND    OTHER    MATTERS 

burying  grounds.  Ten  years  passed,  and  it  was  forced 
upon  the  community  that  something  must  be  done  as  the 
churchyards  were  almost  filled.  The  outcome  was  the 
organization  of  a  company,  early  in  the  Summer  of  1844, 
which  obtained  a  charter  under  the  title  of  the  Allegheny 
Cemetery  Association.  Richard  Biddle  was  president,  and 
the  committee  included  Charles  Avery,  Thomas  Bakewell, 
John  H.  Schoenberger,  James  R.  Spear,  Wilson  McCand- 
less,  Thomas  M.  Howe,  Nathaniel  Holmes,  and  Thomas  J. 
Bingham.  There  was  finally  purchased  from  Mr.  George 
A.  Bayard  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  including  a  house  and 
other  improvements,  for  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
This  was  situated  east  of  the  ''  Butler  Road."  The  first 
public  sale  of  lots  was  made  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  Septem- 
ber. One  hundred  and  seventy  additional  acres  have  been 
added  at  various  times,  making  the  total  area  of  this  bury- 
ing ground  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres.  The  situation 
is  truly  lovely.  Hills  and  dales  and  magnificent  trees  have 
all  lent  themselves  readily  to  the  skill  of  the  landscape 
gardener,  and,  lying  as  it  does  to-day,  in  the  heart  of 
a  busy,  tumultuous  city,  it  is  large  enough  in  itself  to 
seclude  those  who  ''  lie  quiet  in  their  resting  graves  "  from 
the  rush  of  the  throng  outside.  Fifteen  more  cemeteries 
have  been  located  in  various  parts  of  the  two  cities,  on  the 
hills  about  Allegheny  and  South  Side,  and  eastward.  Home- 
wood  Cemetery,  which  contains  almost  two  hundred  acres. 
Pittsburgh  began  her  system  of  parks,  through  the  gift  of 
a  woman,  within  the  last  few  years.  No  city  ever  needed 
them  more,  with  her  crowded  down  town  district,  nor,  in 
truth,  did  the  adjacent  topography  of  country  ever  offer 
more  to  a  cit3%  with  the  hills  and  valleys  and  great  old  trees. 
East  of  Pittsburgh's  business  district  is  high,  rolling 
ground.  Here  lay  the  vast  estate  belonging  to  Mrs.  Schen- 
ley.  Three  hundred  acres  she  gave  to  the  citizens  to  be 
used  as  a  public  park.  One  hundred  and  thirty-four  acres 
she  conveyed  to  them  for  the  nominal  sum  of  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  Mr.  E.  M.  Bigelow  represented  Pitts- 
burgh in  this  transaction  in  which  the  gracious  lady  met 
so  generously  the  need  of  the  city.  Other  plots  have 
been   added,   making   the   area   of   Schenley   Park   about 

[  537  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

seven  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  Mrs.  Schenley  also  be- 
stowed part  of  Riverview  Park  in  Allegheny  and  added 
money  to  the  park  fund.  It  has  been  mentioned  that  she, 
with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harmar  Denny,  gave  the  site  for  the 
West  Penn  Hospital.  Later  she  gave  the  site  for  the 
Blind  Asylum,  the  site  for  the  Newsboy's  Home,  and 
the  old  Block  House  and  property.  A  very  modest  estimate 
of  the  value  of  the  property  that  she  has  given  would  total 
between  nine  and  ten  million  dollars. 

Up  through  the  Liberty  Valley,  northeast,  lies  Highland 
Park  on  the  hills  overlooking  the  Allegheny  river.  On  the 
top  of  the  highest  are  the  reservoirs  which  supply  this 
district  of  the  city.  The  park  has  been  beautifully  planned, 
with  winding,  shady  drives  stretching  over  the  hills  and 
down  through  the  valleys,  finally  reaching  Beechwood 
Boulevard,  which  broad  way  leads  again  to  Schenley  Park. 
The  area  of  the  city  park  system  amounts  to  nine  hundred 
and  fifteen  acres. 

Mrs.  Schenley,  whose  name  is  a  household  word  in  Pitts- 
burgh, was  the  granddaughter  of  Gen.  James  O'Hara. 
Her  mother,  Mary  O'Hara,  married  William  Croghan,  and 
being  her  mother's  only  heir,  she  inherited  many  of  the 
broad  acres  that  her  grandfather,  in  his  foresight  and  wis- 
dom, had  purchased.  Mrs.  Schenley 's  marriage  was  ex- 
tremely romantic.  Her  husband  was  a  British  officer,  and 
consequently  her  home  was  England.  Despite  the  fact  that 
very  little  of  her  life  had  been  connected  with  Pittsburgh, 
she  took,  always,  a  lively  interest  in  the  town,  its  affairs 
and  growth.  When  word  came  of  her  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  the  fourth  of  November,  1903,  Pittsburgh 
mourned  sincerely,  appreciating  fully  her  unrivaled 
generosity. 

The  modern  Zoological  Garden  in  Highland  Park  was  the 
gift  of  the  late  C.  L.  Magee,  and  the  Phipps  Conservatory 
in  Schenley  Park  the  gift  of  Mr.  Henry  Phipps. 

The  prominent  clubs  of  the  city  are  the  Duquesne,  with 
a  membership  of  fifteen  hundred,  organized  June  eleventh, 
1873,  incorporated  November  twenty-eighth,  1881;  the 
Pittsburgh  Club,  organized  April  fifth,  1879;  the  Univer- 
sity Club,  the  Union  Club,  the  Allegheny  Country  Club  in 

[  538  ] 


MBS.    MARY    SCHENLEY. 


SOME    PIONEER    MEN   AND    OTHER    MATTERS 

Sewickley  and  the  Country  Club,  Pittsburgh.  The  Ameri- 
cus  Republican  Club,  political,  organized  in  August,  1884, 
and  incorporated  in  1886,  has  a  very  large  membership. 

The  women's  clubs  are  essentially  different  in  their 
objective  point,  the  men's  being  purely  social  with,  per- 
haps, a  small  admixture  of  business,  while  the  Twentieth 
Century  Club  is  philanthropic,  civic,  and  literary.  It  was 
organized  in  1894.  The  Wimodausis,  the  Concordia,  the 
Business  Woman's,  the  Women's  Press  Club,  and  others 
are  organizations  which  show  the  tendency  of  the  women  of 
the  day,  not  only  to  study  but  to  take  up  those  problems  of 
civic  life  which  make  for  the  betterment  of  the  race. 

The  incentive  to  organize  a  concert  orchestra  in  Pitts- 
burgh came  with  Andrew  Carnegie's  gift  to  the  city  of  a 
building  that  should  contain  a  library,  art  gallery,  museum, 
and  music  hall.  The  Art  Society  of  Pittsburgh,  organized 
in  1873,  undertook  to  raise  the  funds  to  support  an 
orchestra  for  three  years.  Carnegie  Library  building  was 
dedicated  November  first,  1895,  and  the  first  season  of  the 
orchestra  was  inaugurated  in  Carnegie  Music  Hall,  Feb- 
ruary twenty-seventh,  1896. 

The  Art  Society  has  requested  of  the  public  yearly 
guarantees  of  a  certain  minimum  total,  in  periods  of  three 
years  each,  and  these  three-year  periods  have  each  repre- 
sented the  term  for  which  a  certain  conductor  was  engaged. 
The  guarantors,  whose  number  varies  from  year  to  year, 
make  themselves  responsible  to  the  Art  Society.  The 
board  of  directors  of  the  Art  Society,  in  turn,  appoints  an 
Orchestra  Committee  from  among  Art  Society  members, 
who  are  also  guarantors  of  the  orchestra,  and  this  com- 
mittee has  entire  charge  of  its  affairs. 

The  increase  in  the  activities  and  general  scope  of  the 
orchestra,  as  indicated  by  the  statistics  herewith,  naturally 
were  accompanied  by  increased  expenses :  The  first  year 
the  total  guarantee  was  twenty-five  thousand  dollars;  each 
year  since,  the  total  guarantee  has  been  increased  until  for 
the  three-year  term,  beginning  with  the  season  1904-05,  the 
total  amount  guaranteed  was  forty  thousand  dollars,  for 
each  of  three  years,  this  last  guarantee  representing  sums 
from  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  to  five  hundred  dollars 

1   539  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

and  exhibiting  the  public  spirit  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  people.  It  may  be  said  that  Pittsburgh  has  willingly 
subscribed  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars  for  the  sake  of  sup- 
porting an  orchestra  that  shall  serve  an  educational  pur- 
pose in  this  part  of  the  country  and  hold  a  high  musical 
standard.  The  active  season  covers  twenty  weeks.  The 
first  conductor  was  Frederic  Archer,  who  served  three 
years;  he  was  succeeded  by  Victor  Herbert,  who  served  six 
years.  Mr.  Herbert  was  followed  by  Emil  Paur  who,  in 
November,  1904,  entered  upon  a  contract  for  three  years. 

During  the  last  four  or  five  years,  the  Pittsburgh 
Orchestra  has  exerted  a  strong  influence  in  such  cities  as 
Cleveland,  Buffalo,  Toledo,  and  Detroit,  and  particularly 
in  Toronto,  Canada.  It  may  truthfully  be  said  that  what 
the  Pittsburgh  Orchestra  has  created  in  these  cities  has 
opened  the  eyes  of  the  eastern  orchestras  so  that  now  these 
towns  are  honored  with  the  visits  yearly  of  the  Boston  Sym- 
phony, the  New  York  Symphony,  as  well  as  with  this  organ- 
ization, all  of  which  is  beneficial  to  the  several  communities, 
and  makes  Pittsburgh  glad  that  she  can  lend  a  hand  in  such 
a  development. 

The  first  Orchestra  Committee  of  the  Art  Society  was 
composed  of  Beveridge  Webster,  chairman ;  John  Caldwell, 
Thomas  C.  Lazear,  W.  C.  Lyne,  and  Charles  W.  Scovel. 
The  original  subscribers  to  the  fund  for  the  support  of  the 
orchestra  for  three  years  were:  D.  Herbert  Hostetter, 
H.  C.  Frick,  John  B.  Jackson,  William  McConway,  William 
L.  Abbott,  C.  B.  Shea,  B.  Frank  Weyman,  Reuben  Miller, 
E.  M.  Ferguson,  John  G.  Holmes,  Thomas  C.  Jenkins,  J.  E. 
Schwartz,  C.  L.  Magee,  Robert  Pitcairn,  Durbin  Home, 
George  M.  Laughlin,  J.  J.  Vandergrift,  George  Westing- 
house,  Jr.,  William  N.  Frew,  Joseph  Albree,  Charles  B. 
McLean,  Joseph  T.  Speer,  and  Edward  A.  Woods. 

A  mere  statistical  report  is  an  account  of  the  origin  and 
growth  of  an  orchestra,  but  it  is  not  its  real  story;  that 
lies  in  the  response  found  in  the  music-loving  souls  of  those, 
who  are  the  rich  of  the  earth,  whom  God  permits  to  enjoy, 
in  answer  to  their  needs,  all  the  things  He  has  made  beau- 
tiful. 

[  540  ] 


SOME    PIONEER    MEN    AND    OTHER    MATTERS 

Libraries. 

While  Pittsburgh  flourished  in  manufacturing  and  com- 
merce, the  need  for  improvement  in  home  life  and  the  de- 
sire for  knowledge  was  evidenced  early,  and  libraries  and 
book  stores  became  a  feature  of  the  town.  In  the  Pitts- 
burgh Gazette  of  July  twenty-sixth,  1788,  announcement 
was  made  that  ''As  soon  as  one  hundred  subscribers  can 
be  procured  a  Circulating  Library  will  be  opened  in  the 
town  of  Pittsburgh ;  the  following  are  the  terms : 

"  1.  This  Library  will  consist  of  five  hundred  well 
chosen  books,  catalogues  of  which  will  be  given  to  each 
subscriber,  gratis. 

' '  2.  Every  subscriber  to  pay  the  sum  of  twenty  shillings 
per  annum,  in  specie,  one-half  at  the  time  of  subscribing, 
the  remainder  at  the  expiration  of  six  months. 

"  3.  No  subscriber  to  keep  any  book  longer  than  fifteen 
days^  nor  to  take  out  more  than  two  books  at  a  time,  except 
where  subscribers  dwell  at  a  distance,  in  which  case 
sufficient  allowance  will  be  made. 

"4.  In  case  a  book  is  returned  abused,  the  person  return- 
ing it  to  pay  for  whatever  damage  it  may  have  sustained. 

' '  5.  The  proprietor  engages  to  furnish  to  the  subscribers 
all  the  new  publications  on  America,  the  different  maga- 
zines, museums,  etc.,  throughout  the  continent,  and  all  the 
political  and  other  pamphlets,  published  in,  or  interesting 
to,  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 

"  Those  who  wish  to  become  subscribers  are  requested 
immediately  to  send  in  their  names  to  the  subscriber  at 
the  printing  office. 

"  John  Boyd." 

There  was  sufficient  response  to  this  announcement  to 
induce  Boyd  to  inaugurate  the  library.  How  it  throve  is 
a  matter  of  conjecture,  as  no  further  information  concern- 
ing it  is  available.  There  is,  however,  record  during  the 
next  few  years  of  other  circulating  libraries  which  met 
with  varying  degrees  of  success. 

The  first  notice  of  books  in  the  town  for  sale,  appeared  in 
the  Gazette  shortly  after  its  establishment;  it  read,  "At 

[  541  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

tlie  printing  office,  Pittsburgh,  may  be  bad  the  laws  of  this 
State,  passed  between  the  thirtieth  of  September,  1775,  and 
the  Revolution;  New  Testament;  Dilworth's  Spelling 
Books;  New  England  Primers,  with  Catechism;  West- 
minster Shorter  Catechism;  a  Journey  from  Philadelphia 
to  New  York  by  way  of  Burlington  and  South  Amboy,  by 
Robert  Slenner,  Stocking  Weaver;  blank  ledgers,  journals, 
and  receipt  books ;  also  a  few  books  for  the  learner  of  the 
French  language." 

The  first  shop  in  which  books  only  were  sold,  west  of  the 
Allegheny  mountains,  was  established  by  John  Gilkinson,  un- 
der the  patronage  of  Judge  H.  H.  Brackenridge,  some  time 
between  1795  and  1800 ;  but  Mr.  Gilkinson  died  very  soon,  and 
the  store  passed  to  Judge  Brackenridge,  who,  in  the  year 
1800,  sold  it  to  a  young  man  named  Zadoc  Cramer.  The 
bookshop,  which  had  become  somewhat  disordered,  was 
soon  put  into  better  condition  and  considerably  enlarged  by 
Mr.  Cramer.  The  next  year  Zadoc  Cramer  announced  in 
the  Pittsburgh  Gazette,  of  June  eleventh,  that  because  of 
"  repeated  solicitations  he  had  been  induced  to  issue  pro- 
posals to  establish  a  Circulating  Library  upon  the  following 
conditions :  Subscribers  to  pay  one  dollar  per  month,  two 
dollars  for  three  months,  three  and  a  half  for  six  months,  or 
five  dollars  for  twelve  months.  Subscribers  not  to  have 
more  than  one  set  of  books  at  a  time,  to  be  returned  in 
four  days,  or  a  forfeiture  of  six  cents  per  day  for  every 
day's  detention  thereafter.  Country  subscribers  to  have 
two  sets  to  be  retained  not  longer  than  two  weeks.  Any 
book  being  lost  or  in  the  least  damaged,  the  whole  set  must 
be  taken  and  paid  for  at  the  selling  price. ' ' 

The  library  was  to  be  open  Mondays,  Wednesdays  and 
Fridays  from  nine  to  one  in  the  morning,  and  from  two  to 
six  in  the  afternoon.  Cramer  further  stated  that  subscrip- 
tions would  be  received  at  his  bookstore  until  July  first,  and 
if  at  this  time  sufficient  subscribers  had  been  obtained,  he 
would  open  the  library.  Evidently  a  sufficient  number  of 
subscribers  were  enrolled,  for  in  the  Gazette  of  January 
first,  1802,  Cramer  says :  ' '  Grateful  thanks  are  due  to  the 
patronizers  of  this  institution,  and  it  has  been  observed 
with  pleasure  that  a  number  of  new  subscribers  have  been 

[  542  ] 


SOME    PIONEER    MEN    AND    OTHER    MATTERS 

added  since  its  commencement,  which  is  only  about  six 
months. ' ' 

Zadoc  Cramer  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  about  1775,  and 
when  still  a  boy  came  to  the  AVestern  country,  served  an 
apprenticeship  in  the  printing  and  bookbinding  business  in 
the  town  of  Washington,  and  was  noted  even  then  for  the 
"  correctness  and  propriety  of  his  deportment."  A  little 
later  he  came  to  Pittsburgh,  opened  and  built  up  a  book- 
binding business  of  his  own.  The  period  of  his  usefulness 
was  unfortunately  not  long;  being  rather  delicate,  a  too 
close  attention  to  business  gradually  impaired  his  health, 
and  during  the  last  four  or  five  years  of  his  life  his  time 
had  to  be  spent  chiefly  travelling  in  search  of  health. 
Still  under  forty  when  he  died,  he  had  paid  a  debt  of  useful- 
ness to  the  society  of  which  he  was  a  member,  which  might 
have  been  due  from  a  much  longer  life. 

The  establishment  of  a  circulating  library  was  not  the 
only  public  benefit  due  to  Cramer,  as  he,  at  an  early  date, 
set  up  a  press  and  began  the  printing  of  books.  Prior  to 
the  time  of  his  printing  house,  school  books,  as  well  as  all 
other  books,  had  been  carried  over  the  mountains ;  but  after 
Cramer  set  up  his  press,  spelling  books,  gramm^ars,  English 
readers,  arithmetics,  and  a  variety  of  others  adapted  to 
schools  were  printed  in  Pittsburgh  and  circulated  through- 
out the  Western  country.  Cramer  observed  the  lack  of 
some  convenient  guidebook  for  those  navigating  the  western 
waters,  and  compiled  in  1802,  the  Navigator,  which  ran  into 
many  editions.  At  about  the  same  time,  in  conjunction  with 
the  Reverend  John  Taylor,  he  commenced  the  Pittshurgh 
Almanac,  which  his  contemporaries  pronounced  the  "  most 
popular  "  in  the  Western  country,  and  further  that  ''  in- 
stead of  vapid  tales  and  insipid  anecdotes  it  contains  in- 
teresting and  useful  notices  of  the  improvements  in  argri- 
culture,  manufactures  and  trade,  moral  maxims,  and  a 
variety  of  useful  knowledge."  Being  successful  in  his 
ventures,  he  was  induced,  in  1805,  to  attempt  something 
more  pretentious  and  undertook  the  publication  of 
"  Brown's  Dictionary  of  the  Bible,"  which  was  brought  to  a 
successful  completion,  and  netted  Cramer  a  handsome  profit. 
Encouraged  by  his  success,  this  work  was  followed  by  a 

[  543  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

large  number  of  others,  the  majority  of  them  good  works, 
Cramer  supplied  the  retailers  in  many  of  the  principal 
western  towns  with  books. 

The  earliest  location  of  Cramer's  bookstore  is  unknown. 
In  1802,  however,  it  was  on  Market  street  "  between  the 
printing  offices."  In  1810,  Cramer  announced  that,  being 
convinced  of  the  uprightness  and  integrity  of  the  character 
and  conduct  of  Mr.  John  Spear  and  Mr.  William  Eichbaum^ 
he  had  that  day,  April  sixteenth,  1810  (Pittsburgh  Com- 
moniuealth) ,  taken  them  into  a  complete  partnership,  and 
that  in  the  future  the  business  would  be  carried  on  under 
the  name  of  Cramer,  Spear  and  Eichbaum,  at  the  Franklin 
Head  Bookstore,  Market  street,  between  Front  and  Second 
streets.  At  this  period  houses  were  unnumbered  and  stores 
had  only  their  particular  sign  to  distinguish  them;  Cramer's 
had  the  head  of  Benjamin  Franklin.  Another  project  of  his 
was  a  monthly  magazine,  entitled  '"  Western  Gleaner  or  Re- 
pository for  Arts,  Sciences  and  Literature."  This  was 
thoroughly  advertised,  as  were  all  his  books. 

The  efforts  that  had  been  made  to  supply  the  reading 
population  with  material  were  evidently  adequate  for  the 
succeeding  few  years.  There  appears  also  to  have  been 
some  thought  of  literature  for  the  use  of  the  children  and 
youth  of  the  town.  In  fact,  interest  in  the  intellectual  wel- 
fare of  the  community  developed  into  what  must  have  been, 
in  those  times,  an  almost  popular  opportunity  for  education 
and  enlightenment.  In  an  issue  of  the  Commomvealth, 
March,  1812,  there  appeared  a  notice  of  rather  a  unique 
library : 

"  The  Public 

Are  respectfully  reminded  that  Mr.  Thomas  Davis, 
in  Fourth  Street,  between  Wood  and  Market,  has 
taken  into  his  care  a  small  Circulating  Library  for  the 
benefit  of  the  children  and  youth  of  this  town  and  vicinit}". 
Terms  of  access  to  this  library  will  be  made  easy  to  all,  but 
especially  to  such  as  will  abstain  from  immorality  of  eveiy 
kind  and  read  a  portion  of  the  scriptures  every  day.  Mr. 
Davis  will  keep  on  hand  assorted  pieces  for  children  and 
some  tracts  and  instructive  papers  designed  for  the  amuse- 
ment and  improvement  of  all  classes  of  the  community. 

[  544  ] 


SOME   PIONEER    MEN   AND    OTHER    MATTERS 

Some  of  these  tracts  and  papers  will  be  given  gratis ;  others 
exchanged  for  cash,  rags,  or  anything  which  printers  or 
bookbinders  will  take  towards  furnishing  more  books  to  be 
disposed  of  in  the  same  manner." 

Patterson  and  Hopkins  had  a  bookstore  at  the  corner  of 
Wood  and  Fourth  streets  as  early  as  1811.  In  1813,  they 
published  the  Honest  Man's  Almanac.  The  calendar  pages 
were  calculated  by  the  Reverend  John  Taylor,  who  was  cele- 
brated for  his  success  in  foretelling  the  weather.  "  This 
Almanac  contains  nothing  to  encourage  evil  practices  or 
liars,  drunkards  and  rogues,  lazy  fellows;  infidels,  tories, 
cowards,  bad  husbands  and  old  bachelors."  It  also  gave  a 
directory  of  the  principal  merchants,  manufacturers,  law- 
yers, doctors  and  magistrates.  Later  the  firm  of  Patterson 
and  Hopkins  merged  into  the  firm  of  R.  &  J.  Patterson. 

The  Commonivealth,  of  April  seventh,  1812,  of  which  Mr. 
John  Snowden  was  the  editor,  contained  the  following: 

"  New  Bookstoee. 

"  John  M.  Snowden,  Market  Street,  between  Third  and 
Fourth  Streets,  Pittsburgh,  has  just  received  and  is  now 
opening,  a  general  assortment  of  books,  which  he  will  sell 
wholesale  and  retail  on  the  most  liberal  terms.  Family, 
School,  and  pocket  Bibles,  spelling  books,  primers  and  arith- 
metics assorted,  blank  books  of  every  description,  writing, 
wrapping  and  other  paper  at  the  Mill  prices.  Country 
Merchants,  library  companies  and  professional  gentlemen 
who  may  please  to  furnish  him  with  their  orders  shall  have 
them  promptly  executed.  Five  cents  per  lb.  will  be  given 
for  rags  in  cash,  paper  or  books. 

''April  7th,  1812." 

William  R.  Thompson  opened  a  circulating  library  in 
Union  street,  on  the  eighth  of  July,  1813.  Mr.  Thompson 
evidently  had  a  very  hard  time,  for  he  makes  the  following 
open  complaint  in  the  Gazette  of  October  thirteenth,  1813 : 

' '  Circulating  Library. 
*'  The  subscriber  grateful  for  the  encouragement  he  has 
already  met  with  (though  God  knows  it  is  very  little),  and 
35  [  545  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

anxious  to  contribute  all  in  his  power  to  the  amusement  and 
information  of  his  patrons,  has  the  pleasure  of  informing 
them  and  the  public,  that  he  has  considerably  enlarged  his 
library  and  has  printed  catalogues  ready  for  distribution ; 
at  the  same  time  he  must  make  them  acquainted  gratis  with 
the  discovery  that  he  has  made  in  his  capacity  of  librarian, 
viz :  That  there  are  still  many  books  wanted  to  satisfy  the 
diversity  of  taste  in  his  readers,  and  that  these  cannot  be 
procured  without  money,  now  being  himself  as  poor  as  a 
first  rate  genius,  he  is  constrained  to  call  upon  the  opulent 
to  furnish  him  with  the  needful,  assuring  them  that  he  will 
lay  out  to  the  best  advantage  in  books  all  that  he  receives 
for  that  purpose,  except  what  must  indispensibly  go  to  the 
baker,  etc.,  for  selfish  purposes.    W.  R.  Thompson. 

''  P.  S.  Such  subscribers  as  have  not  already  paid  the 
first  six  months  subscription  are  requested  to  call  and  make 
payment  as  they  are  held  responsible  whether  they  have  or 
have  not  had  recourse  to  the  library. ' ' 

The  Pittsburgh  Library  Company  flourished  for  some 
years,  but  in  the  year  1814,  it  was  united  with  the  Pittsburgh 
Permanent  Library  Company. 

The  first  recorded  meeting  of  the  Pittsburgh  Permanent 
Library  Company  was  held  at  the  house  of  William  McCul- 
lough,  on  Saturday,  November  twenty-seventh,  1813.  Sam- 
uel Roberts  was  in  the  chair,  and  Charles  Wilkins  acted  as 
secretary.  It  was  resolved  that  the  Reverend  Francis  Her- 
ron,  Messrs.  James  O'Hara,  William  Wilkins,  Anthony 
Beelen,  and  Aquila  M.  Bolton  "  be  a  committee  to  frame  a 
constitution  of  the  association  and  report  the  same  at  the 
next  meeting  of  the  company,"  and  that  Messrs.  Bolton, 
BoUman,  Spear,  and  Charles  Wilkins  *'  be  a  committee  to 
confer  with  the  Old  Pittsburgh  Library  Company  upon  the 
propriety  and  method  of  forming  a  coalition  of  the  two 
institutions,  and  report  the  result  of  their  proceedings  at 
the  next  meeting." 

The  Constitution  was  accordingly  prepared,  and  the  libra- 
rian was  ordered  to  commence  the  letting  of  books  on  Fri- 
day, the  fifteenth  of  April,  1814,  in  the  room  appropriated 
for  that  purpose,  in  the  court  house,  every  Tuesday  and 
Thursday,  from  five  until  eight  p.  m.,  and  on  Saturday  from 

[  546  ] 


SOME   PIONEER   MEN   AND    OTHER   MATTERS 

three  until  eight  p.  m.  The  Reverend  Francis  Herron  was 
president  of  the  board  of  directors ;  A.  M.  Bolton,  secretary ; 
John  Spear,  treasurer.  The  directors  were :  George  Poe, 
James  Lea,  Benjamin  B.  Bakewell,  Samuel  Roberts,  Walter 
Forward,  Lewis  Bollman,  Robert  Patterson,  John  M,  Snow- 
den,  Dr.  J.  Reynolds,  J.  B.  Trevor,  William  Wilkins,  and 
Henry  Baldwin.  The  library  was  financed  by  the  contribu- 
tions of  ten  dollars,  from  a  few  individuals,  and  by  the  loan 
of  a  certain  number  of  books.  The  annual  fee  was  five 
dollars.  The  triennial  meeting  of  the  shareholders  was 
convened  at  their  new  library  room,  in  Second  street,  oppo- 
site Squire  Graham's  office,  at  six  o'clock,  Monday  evening, 
December  thirtieth,  1816.  ''  The  President  being  absent 
Mr.  Bakewell  was  appointed  chairman  for  the  evening.  The 
secretary  laid  before  the  meeting  a  report  from  the  Board 
of  Directors  by  which  it  appeared  that  the  receipts  of  the 
company  from  the  conunencement  of  the  institution  in  De- 
cember, 1813,  amounted  to  one  thousand  and  forty  dollars; 
that  the  payment  of  the  company  for  books  and  contingent 
expenses  since  that  period  amounted  to  nine  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  dollars  and  ninety-eight  cents,  leaving  a  balance 
in  the  treasury  of  eighty-one  dollars  and  two  cents.  The 
following  gentlemen  were  then  elected  by  ballot  to  serve  as 
a  Board  of  Directors  for  the  ensuing  three  years,  viz: 
George  Poe,  president ;  Aquila  M.  Bolton,  secretary ;  Lewis 
Bollman,  treasurer ;  James  Lea,  Benjamin  Bakewell,  Robert 
Patterson,  Walter  Forward,  Alexander  Johnson,  Jr.,  Wil- 
liam Eichbaum,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Page,  Alexander  McClurg, 
J.  P.  Skelton,  Ephraim  Pentland,  Charles  Avery,  J.  R. 
Lambdin,  directors.  By  order  of  the  meeting,  A.  M.  Bolton, 
Sec'y." 

During  the  Summer  of  1816  David  Thomas,  a  noted  trav- 
eller, visited  Pittsburgh.  Mr.  Thomas  stated  that  he  had 
been  informed  that  the  public  library  contained  two  thou- 
sand volumes,  but  upon  visiting  it,  through  the  politeness 
of  J.  Armstrong,  librarion,  and  examining  the  catalogue,  he 
found  the  whole  collection  to  be  only  about  five  hundred 
volumes.  He  said,  however,  that  the  books  were  well  chosen 
and  of  the  best  editions. 

Mr.  Joseph  Albree,  president  of  the  Mercantile  Library 

-    [  547  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

Association  of  Pittsburgh,  stated,  in  his  Twenty-second 
Annual  Report,  that  the  first  record  of  the  association  car- 
ried the  date  of  July  thirteenth,  1847,  signed  by  twenty- 
three  people,  setting  forth  the  advantages  of  a  public 
library  and  reading  room,  and  pledging  themselves,  each 
to  the  other,  to  exert  themselves  for  the  permanent  and 
final  success  of  their  object.  That  same  year  the  annals 
show  that  Samuel  M.  Wickersham  was  the  president,  and 
that  rooms  had  been  rented  in  the  second  story  of  a  build- 
ing on  Market  street,  between  Third  and  Fourth  streets. 
A  charter  was  procured  in  1849.  The  association  not  only 
controlled  the  library  but  brought  various  lecturers,  among 
whom  was  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson,  in  1851.  He  delivered 
a  course  of  lectures  which  were  received  with  much  en- 
thusiasm. The  library  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Western 
Pennsylvania  later  came  into  the  possession  of  the  associa- 
tion. The  erection  of  Library  Hall  was  accomplished  in 
1867-70.  It  was  erected  by  a  company  denominated  the 
Mercantile  Library  Hall  Company.  The  same  year  a  be- 
quest of  five  thousand  dollars  was  made  to  the  association 
by  Ebenezer  Brewster,  in  recognition  of  which  certain 
alcoves  in  the  library  have  since  been  known  as  the 
Brewster  Alcoves.  In  1864  the  association  begged  of  the 
Legislature  for  ''  a  supplement  to  the  act  to  incorporate 
The  Young  Men's  Mercantile  Library  Association  and 
Mechanics  Institute,"  in  order  to  accomplish  their  con- 
solidation. The  report  of  1873  tells  the  same  story  that 
came  from  the  other  institutions  during  that  year,  lack  of 
progress  owing  to  lack  of  funds.  So  many  years  did  this 
library  serve  the  people  of  Pittsburgh  that  to  come  to  the 
day  when  it  could  no  longer  face  competition,  nor  meet  the 
heavy  rents  of  the  city,  is  a  pitiful  one.  It  was  carried 
over  the  Monongahela,  high  up  over  the  Bluff  and 
back  to  the  village  of  Knoxville,  and  there  sequestered  in 
part  of  the  second  story  of  one  of  the  public  school  build- 
ings. Here  are  many  valuable  files  of  the  early  news- 
papers of  Pittsburgh  not  to  be  found  elsewhere;  here  are 
many  volumes  that  appertain  to  the  early  life  of  the  people 
of  this  district.  Its  use  continues,  in  a  way,  under  Mr. 
Graham,  who  has  been  loyal  to  it  from  the  days  of  its  prime 

[  548  ] 


'ii'!i^^^^ 


ANDEKSON     LIBEABY,     ALLEGHENY,     1858;     ESTABLISHED    1850.       THE 
SOUKCE   OF   INSPIRATION    FOR   THE    CARNEGIE   LIBRARIES. 


SOME    PIONEER    MEN   AND    OTHER    MATTERS 

to  the  days  of  its  seclusion,  for  a  certain  number  of  the 
periodicals  are  purchased  and  the  school  children  enjoy 
them.  Occasionally  some  one  else  steps  in,  and  it  always 
results  in  a  chat  about  the  indignities  put  upon  the  Young 
Men's  Mercantile  Library  by  an  unappreciative  and 
thoughtless  community. 

Col.  Anderson  little  realized  how  vast  was  to  be  the 
influence  of  the  library  he  established  in  1850,  and  named 
"  The  James  Anderson  Library  Institute  of  Allegheny 
City,"  which  consisted  of  the  books  of  his  own  library, 
offered  to  all  who  desired  to  use  them.  Its  first  home  was 
the  second  floor  of  a  building  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
Federal  street  and  the  Diamond.  The  prominent  citizens 
of  the  town  acted  as  a  board  of  directors,  and  this  popular 
institute  was  open  to  visitors  Tuesdays  and  Saturdays 
from  seven  to  nine-thirty  p.  m.  from  March  first  until  Octo- 
ber first,  and  from  six  to  nine  p.  m.  from  October  first  to 
March  first.  The  library  was  closed  through  the  Civil  War 
and  the  books  stored  in  the  basement  of  City  Hall.  It 
reopened  in  1865.  The  place  was  popular  with  boys,  and 
was  particularly  attractive  to  a  special  boy.  Here  he  came 
in  his  few  leisure  hours  and  read  and  read.  He  was  not 
a  boy  inclined  to  talk  but  was  very  busy.  This  boy,  who 
loved  books  and  was  so  busy,  grew  up  very  much  as  he 
promised,  and  then,  because  he  was  grateful  to  the  Colonel, 
even  after  many  years,  for  lending  him  his  books  when  he 
was  a  boy  and  had  none  of  his  own,  he  ordered  a  certain 
great  sculptor  to  make  a  portrait  bust  of  Colonel  Anderson, 
and  beneath  was  put  the  figure  of  a  man  which  personified 
work,  and  this  was  erected  close  by  a  great  stone  building 
over  whose  entrance  is  graven  ' '  Carnegie  Library,  Free  to 
the  People." 

The  Anderson  Library  is  still  maintained  in  its  integrity, 
occupying  the  first  floor  of  the  new  High  School  annex  at 
Arch  and  Erie  streets.  There  still  remain  about  four 
hundred  of  the  original  books,  but  several  thousand  more 
have  been  added.  So  even  to-day,  Col.  Anderson's  library 
continues  to  help  the  boys  and  girls  who  desire  it. 

In  1881  Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie  offered  Pittsburgh  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  a  free  public  lib- 

[  549  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF    PITTSBURGH 

rary,  on  condition  that  the  city  appropriate  fifteen  thousand 
dollars  a  year  for  its  maintenance.  The  selection  of  the 
site,  erection  of  the  building,  and  management  of  the  library 
were  to  be  entrusted  to  a  committee  of  ten  well-known 
citizens  of  Allegheny  county,  to  be  named  by  Mr.  Carnegie. 
For  legal  and  other  reasons  this  gift  was  not  then  accepted. 

Meantime  there  was  a  sentiment  growing  in  the  neighbor- 
ing city  of  Allegheny  in  favor  of  accepting  the  gift  should 
the  offer  go  in  that  direction.  Accordingly,  on  May  thir- 
teenth, 1886,  Mr.  George  W.  Snaman  presented  a  resolu- 
tion in  the  City  Council  offering  to  Mr.  Carnegie  the  Third 
Ward  Diamond  Square  (two  hundred  and  twelve  by  two 
hundred  and  twelve  feet)  as  a  site  for  a  free  library,  the 
city  agreeing  to  appropriate  fifteen  thousand  dollars  a 
year  in  case  Mr.  Carnegie  should  agree  to  expend  five  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  on  the  building.  To  this  offer  Mr. 
Carnegie  replied  that  he  would  expend  two  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  as  he  thought  the  sum  sufficient  for 
the  time  being.  He  afterwards  increased  his  gift,  how- 
ever, to  three  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

In  drafting  the  library  ordinance,  by  some  oversight,  the 
amount  to  be  appropriated  by  the  city  annually  was  not 
specified,  but  was  worded  rather  indefinitely  as  a  ''  suffi- 
cient amount  annually."  However,  the  tacit  understand- 
ing, both  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Carnegie  and  the  citizens  of 
Allegheny,  was  that  not  less  than  fifteen  thousand  dollars 
was  to  be  the  city's  yearly  appropriation.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  it  has  never  been  less  than  that  amount  since  the 
library  opened. 

A  building  commission  was  formed,  composed  of  Henry 
Phipps,  Jr.,  John  Walker,  James  B.  Scott,  and  Richard  C. 
Gray,  representing  Mr.  Carnegie,  and  Hugh  L.  Fleming 
(Adam  Ammon  was  appointed  to  succeed  Mr.  Fleming, 
who  died  in  July,  1887),  Arthur  Kennedy,  Thomas  A. 
Parke,  and  George  W.  Snaman,  representing  the  city  of 
Allegheny. 

Mr.  Scott  devoted  much  time  to  the  work,  and  largely 
through  his  attention  and  energy  the  building  was  com- 
pleted in  a  little  less  than  two  years  and  six  months  from 
the  time  ground  was  broken.     The  building  is  a  massive 

[  550  ] 


SOME   PIONEER   MEN   AND    OTHER   MATTERS 

structure  of  gray  granite  in  Romanesque  style,  and  was 
designed  by  Mr.  Paul  J.  Pelz,  of  the  former  firm  of  Smith- 
meyer  &  Pelz,  of  Washington.  The  building  contained 
originally  the  following  principal  divisions:  library  sec- 
tion, art  gallery,  lecture-room,  and  music  hall. 

The  management  and  control  of  the  library  is  vested  in 
a  committee  composed  of  sixteen  members  of  the  City 
Council,  twelve  of  whom  are  appointed  by  the  president 
of  the  common  branch  and  four  by  the  president  of  the 
select  branch  of  councils. 

The  presidents  of  the  two  bodies  are  ex-officio  members. 
This  committee  elects  the  librarian  and  his  assistants,  who 
must,  since  1893,  first  have  passed  a  competitive  examina- 
tion in  writing  and  be  recommended  for  appointment  by 
the  librarian.  Mr.  W.  M.  Stevenson  was  the  first  librarian, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  E.  E.  Eggers,  the  present  in- 
cumbent. 

Allegheny  was  already  enjoying  the  benefit  of  Mr. 
Carnegie's  gift;  it  was  not  until  1886  that  it  was  decided 
by  Pittsburgh  that  proper  legislation  could  be  procured, 
incorporating  his  letter  of  1881,  accepting  his  proposition 
and  complying  with  his  conditions.  His  first  offer  was  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  a  free  library, 
the  city  appropriating  annually  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand 
dollars  for  the  maintenance  thereof.  The  act  was  passed 
in  1887  by  the  Legislature,  and  this  was  reported  to  Mr. 
Carnegie.  This  brought  an  answer  in  the  winter  of  1890 
in  which  he  said  that,  owing  to  the  great  growth  of  the 
city,  he  now  offered  to  expend  not  less  than  one  million 
dollars  for  buildings  which  should  contain  reference  and 
circulating  libraries,  art  galleries,  and  assembly  rooms  for 
the  various  educational  and  scientific  societies,  and  a 
museum,  suggesting  at  the  same  time  the  erection  of  branch 
library  buildings.  He  further  proposed  placing  the  erec- 
tion and  control  of  these  buildings  in  the  hands  of  a  board 
of  trustees  of  eighteen  members,  nine  to  be  named  by  him- 
self and  the  other  nine  to  comprise  the  Mayor,  the  presi- 
dents of  the  Select  and  Common  Councils,  the  president 
of  the  Central  Board  of  Education,  and  five  members  of 
the  City  Councils;  the  condition  thereto  attached  was  that 

[  551  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

the  city  should  bind  itself  to  place  in  the  hands  of  the 
board  of  trustees  forty  thousand  dollars  each  and  every 
year  for  the  maintenance  of  the  library  system.  The  city 
passed  the  ordinance  accepting  this  proposition  on  the 
thirty-first  of  May,  1890.  James  B.  Scott  was  chosen  first 
president  of  the  trustees ;  H.  C.  Frick,  treasurer,  and  W.  N. 
Frew,  secretary.  The  plans  offered  by  Longfellow,  Alden, 
and  Harlowe  were  adopted.  Mr.  Carnegie  generously 
added  another  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  when  it  was 
decided  to  build  of  stone  instead  of  brick.  The  Central 
Library  building  was  placed  on  part  of  nineteen  acres  of 
park  land  which  had  been  recently  acquired  from  Mrs. 
Schenley,  and  fronted  on  Forbes  street  facing  Bellefield 
avenue.  The  building  was  dedicated  to  public  use  on 
Tuesday,  November  fifth,  1895,  with  great  ceremony.  Mr. 
Carnegie  was  present,  and  the  occasion  was  graced  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States.  So  great  was  the  need  for 
this  institution  that  within  two  years  it  was  realized  that 
it  must  be  enlarged.  This  was  delayed  through  the  in- 
ability to  procure  the  needed  ground,  and  it  was  not  until 
the  July  of  1904  that  the  contract  for  the  extension  of  the 
main  library  building  was  let.  This  enlargement  has  been 
of  such  immense  proportion  that  two  years  more  have  been 
occupied  accomplishing  it.  It  is,  however,  not  so  much  the 
mere  massive,  splendid  building  that  is  the  home  of  the 
Carnegie  Institute,  the  cost  for  the  construction  of  which 
has  amounted  to  over  six  millions  of  dollars,  but  the  actual 
work,  the  people  whom  it  has  reached,  benefited,  and 
elevated,  that  is  to  be  estimated. 

The  library  has  recently  completed  the  first  decade  of  its 
existence,  and  a  few  statistics  may  be  of  interest,  showing 
the  remarkable  growth  of  the  institution  in  those  years. 
During  the  first  full  year  it  was  open,  1896,  the  appropria- 
tion, which  covered  the  cost  of  maintaining  the  rooms  of 
the  art  galleries,  museum,  and  music  hall,  was  sixty-five 
thousand  dollars,  the  circulation  was  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  thousand,  eight  hundred  and  ninety-four  volumes, 
and  the  total  use  of  books  in  and  out  of  the  building  was  one 
hundred  and  sixty-eight  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifteen. 
During  the  year  just  closed   (January  thirty-first,  1905), 

[  552  ] 


SOME   PIONEER   MEN   AND    OTHER   MATTERS 

the  appropriation,  which  included  the  items  enumerated 
above,  was  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  thousand  dollars. 

When  the  library  opened  in  November,  1895,  it  had  only 
one  building,  the  Central  Library  in  Schenley  Park,  its 
collection  of  volumes  numbering  sixteen  thousand,  and  the 
number  of  persons  on  the  clerical  staff,  sixteen.  At  the 
l^resent  time  the  library  system  includes  one  Central 
Library,  six  branch  libraries,  housed  in  convenient  and 
attractive  buildings,  erected  especially  for  the  purpose, 
eleven  deposit  stations,  and  one  special  children's  room  in 
the  settlement  house  of  the  Soho  Bath  House  Committee. 
It  has  also  conducted  during  the  year  and  supplied  with 
books  three  "  home  library  "  groups  and  forty-nine  read- 
ing clubs  of  boys  and  girls  who  live  in  districts  remote  from 
the  central  or  branch  libraries.  It  sends  collections  of 
books  to  fifty-six  schools,  where  they  may  be  borrowed  by 
the  pupils  for  home  use  in  addition  to  being  used  in  the 
class  rooms;  and  in  the  summer,  supplies  the  playgrounds 
with  small  circulating  libraries  and  assistants  to  distribute 
the  books.  Through  these  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
agencies  it  has  circulated  six  hundred  and  sixty-one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  ninety-one  volumes  during  1905, 
while  the  total  recorded  use  of  books  and  magazines  was 
one  million  three  hundred  and  eighty-eight  thousand,  nine 
hundred  and  sixty.  The  number  of  persons  regularly 
employed  on  the  clerical  staff  is  one  hundred  and  six,  not 
including  the  superintendent  of  buildings  and  his  staff. 
In  addition  to  paid  employees  about  seventy-eight  other 
persons  assist  in  the  work,  including  the  students  in  the 
Training  School  for  Children's  Librarians,  the  members  of 
the  apprentice  class  and  the  workers  in  the  "  home  lib- 
raries "  and  reading  clubs,  who  give  their  services  to  the 
library  for  this  work.  The  total  number  of  books  in  the 
central  and  branch  libraries,  and  all  other  parts  of 
the  system,  is  now  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand. 

The  remarkable  work  this  library  has  done  for  children 
is  so  widely  known  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  upon  it. 
It  has  not  waited  for  the  children  to  come  to  it,  but  has 
gone  out  into  the  byways  and  alleys  and  established  read- 
ing clubs  among  boys  and  girls  who  would  never  otherwise 

[  553  ] 


THE   HISTORY   OF   PITTSBURGH 

have  known  the  elevating  influence  of  good  books.  In  this 
it  has  worked  hand  in  hand  with  philanthropic  and  char- 
itable associations.  It  has  established  a  Training  School 
for  Children's  Librarians,  which  is  the  only  one  of  the  kind 
in  the  world. 

In  other  words,  the  Carnegie  Library,  of  Pittsburgh,  has 
in  ten  years  taken  its  rank  as  one  of  the  first  libraries  in  the 
country.  This  is  due  to  the  great  ability  of  Mr.  E.  H.  An- 
derson, librarian.  He  possessed,  in  rare  proportion,  knowl- 
edge, energy,  and  practicality.  After  ten  years '  service,  to 
the  regret  of  the  city,  he  resigned. 

Miss  Willard,  the  reference  librarian,  has  brought  to  her 
task,  just  those  talents  and  accomplishments  which  have 
enabled  her  to  constantly  build  up  her  department. 

The  Museum  is  a  large  department  in  the  Carnegie  In- 
stitute. It  has  from  the  beginning  been  under  the  care  of 
Dr.  W.  J.  Holland  and  his  assistants.  Their  scientific  work 
is  given  world-wide  recognition.  Various  scientific  expedi- 
tions have  been  sent  out  by  the  museum.  This  is,  naturally, 
only  possible  because  of  the  special  patronage  of  Mr.  Car- 
negie. In  this  way  was  discovered  the  great  prehistoric 
monster,  Diplodocus,  the  restoration  of  wliich  has  been  com- 
pleted and  a  plaster  copy  made  and  presented  to  the  British 
Museum. 

The  Museum,  like  the  Library,  with  technical  experts, 
ministers  to  the  teaching  of  children  as  well  as  to  the 
scientific  research  of  men. 

The  Art  Galleries  have  done  much  to  develop  the  art  of 
America.  The  purpose  here  is  to  assemble  each  year  a 
representative  collection  of  contemporaneous  works,  which 
makes  possible  the  study  of  the  tendencies  of  modern  art,  as 
shown  by  the  living  painters  of  all  countries.  Some  of  the 
European  painters  have  asserted  that  within  these  galleries, 
during  the  Annual  Exhibition,  the  most  comprehensive  view 
of  modern  art  may  be  found,  for  here  are  gathered  the 
pictures  of  the  artists  of  all  nations.  Advisory  committees 
representing  the  Carnegie  Institute  meet  in  London,  Paris, 
Munich,  and  The  Hague  for  the  purpose  of  considering  and 
accepting  paintings  for  the  exhibition,  and  all  works  thus 
submitted  are  presented  to  the  international  jury,  created 

[  554  ] 


SOME    PIONEER    MEN   AND    OTHER    MATTERS 

by  the  votes  of  all  the  painters  who  offer  their  pictures. 
This  plan  for  the  election  of  the  jury  was  adopted  by  the 
Institute,  in  1897,  and  has  resulted  in  bringing  to  Pitts- 
burgh, each  year,  two  painters  from  abroad,  and  eight  from 
America.  This  year  brought  two  eminent  men  from 
America. 

The  number  of  works  offered  to  the  Institute  for  this 
year  was  1,315,  an  increase  over  last  year  of  601,  but  the 
total  number  accepted  by  the  Advisory  Committees  abroad, 
and  the  International  Jury,  at  Pittsburgh,  comprised  a  total 
of  only  287. 

Under  the  scope  of  the  work  of  the  Carnegie  Institute 
are  the  free  organ  recitals,  given  through  the  season, 
every  Saturday  evening  and  Sunday  afternoon,  on  the  great 
organ  in  Music  Hall,  played  by  one  or  another  of  the  emi- 
nent organists  of  the  world.  Mr.  Archer  was  for  years 
organist,  and  also,  Mr.  Lemaire,  That  this  is  an  appre- 
ciated department  of  the  Institute  is  evidenced  by  the  great, 
quiet,  orderly  audiences,  who  come  for  that  solace  which 
music  and  only  music  can  give. 

All  this  has  been  made  possible  by  the  generosity  of  one 
man.  Such  lavishness  is  indeed  unique  in  the  history  of 
mankind,  for  Mr.  Carnegie  has  given  to  the  city  of  Pitts- 
burgh, in  buildings  and  additions  thereto  and  endowments 
thereof,  the  total  sum  of  $11,620,000.  Truly,  it  is  a  wonder- 
ful city  that  has  produced  a  man,  who  can  make  to  her  such 
magnificent  return. 


[  555  ] 


INDEX 


INDEX 


Chronology    v 

Sources xvii 


FRONTIER    TIMES. 

1716-1794. 

Amherst,  Sir  JeflFrey,  orders  Col.  Bouquet  to  relieve  Fort  Pitt,  40. 
Beaujeu,  commander  of  French  at  Braddock's  defeat,  24;  death  of,  27. 
Bouquet,  Col.  Henry,  38;  ordered  to  relieve  Fort  Pitt,  40;  expedition  of,  46; 

voted  thanks  by  legislative  bodies  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  50. 
Brackenridge,  Judge  H.  H.,  in  the  Whiskey  Insurrection,  61 ;  his  description 

of  Pittsburgh,  93. 
Braddock,  Gen.,  despatched  to  Virginia,  19;  defeat  of,  24;  grave  of,  25. 
Brienville,  Celeron  de,  expedition  of,  3. 
Brodhead,  Col.  Daniel,  commands  Fort  Pitt,  57. 
Bushy  Run,  battle  of,  43. 

Connolly,  Capt.  John,  of  Virginia,  takes  possession  of  Fort  Pitt,  52. 
Contrecoeur,   French  commander,  compels   surrender  of  English  at  forks  of 

Ohio,  14;  completes  English  fort,  15. 
Craig,  Major  Isaac,  builds  Fort  Fayette,  59  (see  also  pp.  80,  121,  518). 
Dinwiddle,  Gov.,  orders  Washington  to  take  command  of  the  forks  of  the 

Ohio,  13. 
Dunmore,  Lord,  Governor  of  Virginia,  orders  Capt.  Jno.   Connolly  to  take 

possession  of  Fort  Pitt,  52. 
Duquesne,  Fort,  completion  of,  15;  description  of,  17;  evacuated  by  French,  31. 
Ecuyer,   Capt.   Simeon,  commander  of   Fort  Pitt,   38;    demolishes  and  burns 

Pittsburgh,  40. 
English  and  French  in  North  America,  1688,  1;   first  attempt  at  settlement 

west  of  Alleghenies,   1;   commence  fort  at  forks  of  Ohio,   14;    surrender 

fort  to  French,  14;  campaign  against  French,  19;  campaigns  of  1756,  1757, 

1758,  28;  campaign  of  1760,  36. 
Erection  of  western  forts  by  French,  4. 
Fayette,  Fort,  built,  59. 
Forbes,  Gen.  John,  appointed  by  William  Pitt  to  take  Fort  Duquesne,  29; 

his  march  to  Fort  Duquesne,  29 ;  ta  kes  possession  of  Fort  Duquesne,  3 1 ; 

death  of,  35. 

[  557  ] 


INDEX 

French  and  English  claims  to  territory  west  of  Alleghenies,  1-4. 

Gist,  Christopher,  sent  to  explore  and  survey  lands  on  the  Ohio,  4;  acta  as 

agent  for  Ohio  Land  Co.,  4;  as  George  Washington's  guide,  8. 
Grant,  Major,  disastrous  engagement  of,  29. 
Half -King   (Tanacharison),  returns  speech  belt  to  French,  9;   holds  council 

of  war  with  Washington,  15. 
Harmar,  Gen.,  his  expedition  to  the  Maumee,  58. 
Irvine,  Gen.  William,  commands  Fort  Pitt,  58,  77. 
Joncaire,  Capt.,  Washington's  visit  to,  10. 

Keith,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  urges  erection  of  fort  on  Lake  Erie,  2. 
Lancaster,  treaty  at,  3. 
Little  Meadows,  battle  of,  15. 
Logs  town,  treaty  at,  4. 

Mercer,  Col.  Hugh,  builds  first  Fort  Pitt,  35. 
Necessity,  Fort,  surrendered  to  French,  16. 
Neville,  John,  as  Captain,  commands  Fort  Pitt,  54;  as  General,  active  in  the 

Whiskey  Insurrection,  61. 
Ohio  Land   Company,  organization  of,   3;    despatches  Washington  to  French 

commander  at  headwaters  of  Ohio,  5. 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  boundary  controversy,  52. 
Pitt,  William,  Prime  Minister  of  England,  28;  appoints  Gen.  Forbes  to  take 

Fort  Duquesne,  29. 
Pitt,  Fort,  first,  built,  35;  second,  built,  36;  commanders  of,  38;  dismantled, 

52    (see   also   p.    75);    taken   by   Capt.   John   Connolly   of   Virginia,   52; 

renamed  "  Fort  Dunmore,"  52 ;   commanded  by  Capt.  John  Neville,  54 ; 

during  the  Revolution,  56. 
Pittsburgh,  beginning  of,  1 ;  first  uses  of  name,  33,  65 ;  site  of,  included  in 

lands  purchased  by  the  Penns,  51 ;  declared  in  Augusta  county,  Virginia, 

52;  created  into  a  borough,  64   (see  also  p.  114). 
Pontiac,  conspiracy  of,  38. 

Provinces  endeavor  to  provide  for  the  defense  of  the  frontier,  18. 
Spotswood,   Governor   of   Virginia,   attempts   to   extend   English   settlements 

west,  1. 
Stanwix,  Gen.  John,  succeeds  Gen.  Forbes,  36;  builds  second  Fort  Pitt,  36. 
Stanwix,  Fort,  treaty  at,  51. 
St.  Clair,  Arthur,  defeated  by  Indians,  58. 

St.  Pierre,  Legardeur  de,  commander  of  Le  Boeuf,  receives  Washington,  10. 
Trent,  Capt.  William,  commences  fort  on  site  of  Pittsburgh,  14. 
Virginia,  grants  ten  thousand  pounds  for  protection  of  frontier,  13. 
Ward,  Edward,  ensign,  surrenders  to  Contrecoeur,  14. 
Washington,  George,  despatched  to  headwaters  of  the  Ohio,  1753,  5;  builds 

Fort   Necessity,    16;    his   journal   of   expedition   in    1753-54,    8;    delivers 

letter  of  French  commandant,   13;   his  account  of  Braddock's  campaign, 

25;  his  account  of  Forbes'  march,  33;  sets  out  for  Pittsburgh  during  the 

Whiskey  Insurrection,  63. 
Wayne,  Gen.  Anthony,  his  victory  over  the  Indians  on  the  Maumee,  64,  78. 
Whiskey  Insurrection  the,  59;  cost  of,  63. 

[  558  ] 


INDEX 

BEFORE    THE    CITY    CHARTER. 
1749-1816. 

Academy,  Old  Pittsburgh,  102;  first  trustees,  102  (sketch,  287). 

Allegheny  county,  erected,  103;  first  court-house  built,  105;  first  jail  (1788), 
107;  early  members  of  bar,  108;  first  blast  furnace,  113. 

Alleghenytown,  beginning  of,  104. 

Anshutz,  George,  early  ironworker,  113. 

Arsenal,  Allegheny,  established,  150   (explosion,  217). 

Boat  and  ship  building,  first  mentions,  74,  88;  boat  builders  from  Philadelphia 
arrive  at  Pittsburgh,  89;  first  ships  built  at  Pittsburgh  and  vicinity, 
123;  account  of  first  steamboat  to  run  on  western  waters,  140;  steam- 
boats built  in  Pittsburgh  and  vicinity  (1811-35),  144;  stimulus  given 
to  industry,  145. 

Brackenridge,  H.  H.,  his  descriptions  of  Pittsburgh   (1786),  93. 

Brodhead,  Col.,  rules  Pittsburgh,  77. 

Churches   (see  Churches,  p.  338). 

Coal,  first,  mined  in  Pittsburgh,  90;  stimulus  given  to  industry,  144. 

Craig,  Isaac  (and  Stephen  Bayard),  purchase  lots  in  Pittsburgh  (1784),  80; 
as  a  glass  manufacturer,  121. 

English  traders,  first  at  the  headwaters  of  the  Ohio,  65. 

Fire  department,  establishment  of  first,  124   (see  also  pp.  190,  236). 

Iron,  earliest  discoveries  of,  on  western  slope  of  Alleghenies,  112;  Pittsburgh 
as  a  market  for,  114;  foundry  —  Joseph  McClurg's,  129. 

Lee,  Arthur,  his  account  of  Pittsburgh,  84. 

Manufactures,  first  account  of,  87;  enumerations  of — 1792  to  1795,  111-112; 
early  iron,  113-114;  early  lumber  and  glass,  120;  value  of  (1803),  129; 
first  cotton,  131;  enumeration  of  (1807),  132;  flint  glass,  133;  Common- 
wealth enumeration  of  (1809),  135;  cannon,  145. 

Merchants,  first,  74;  early  advertisements  of,  100. 

McKeesport,  founding  of,  118. 

Newspapers,  first,  of  Pittsburgh,  91;  the  Gazette,  91;  the  Tree  of  Liberty, 
128;  the  Commonwealth,  131    (see  also  p.  483). 

O'Hara,  Gen.  James,  as  trader,  contractor  and  manufacturer,  120  (see  also 
p.  519  for  sketch). 

Penn,  Thos.  and  Richard,  purchase  territory  of  Indians  including  site  of 
Pittsburgh,  78;  they  survey  same,  79. 

Penn,  Jno.,  Jr.,  and  John  Penn,  sell  lands  in  Manor  of  Pittsburgh,  80. 

Pitts- Borough,  Gen.  Forbes  first  to  use  name,  65. 

Pittsburgh,  early  English  traders  in  vicinity  of,  65;  Gen.  Stanwix  uses  name 
in  letters  (1759),  66;  population  (1760),  66;  first  school,  66  (see  also 
p.  269 )  ;  first  church  ( see  Churches,  p.  338 )  ;  demolished  by  garrison 
(1763),  73;  survey  of  Col.  Campbell,  74;  Washington's  description,  75; 
removal  of  garrison,  75  (see  also  p.  52)  ;  some  citizens  (1774),  76;  Vir- 
ginia takes  possession,  77;  some  citizens  (1781),  78;  immigration  affect- 
ing, 78;  territory  including,  purchased  by  Penns,  78;  Woods  and  Vickroy's 
Burvey,  80;  first  lots  sold,  80;  early  descriptions,  85-86;  first  industry,  88; 

[  559  ] 


INDEX 

first  coal  mined,  90;  chief  elements  in  early  growth,  90;  first  ferries,  90; 
first  newspaper,  91;  Brackenridge's  Gazette  articles  concerning,  93;  post 
office  established,  99;  first  market  house,  100;  Academy  founded,  102; 
library  opened,  103;  first  courts  held,  104  (see  also  p.  506)  ;  record  of 
population  (1788),  108;  improvement  of  roads  leading  to  and  from, 
109;  factors  affecting  growth  (1785-),  110;  enumeration  of  industries 
(1792),  111;  early  iron  supply,  113;  first  blast  furnace,  113;  iron  market 
for  west  and  south,  114;  incorporated  as  a  borough,  114;  early  streets, 
115;  first  borough  officers,  116;  receipts  and  expenditures  (1794),  117; 
early  suburbs,  118;  Craig's  description,  118;  mail  and  transportation 
routes  to  and  from  (1794),  119;  first  glass  manufacturing,  121;  first 
fire  department,  124;  early  lotteries,  125;  first  footways,  126;  first  water 
supply,  127;  population  (1800),  128;  second  newspaper,  128;  reincorpo- 
ration (1804),  130;  first  bank,  131  (see  also  p.  261);  roads  and  stage 
lines  to  and  from  (1805-),  131;  third  newspaper,  131;  flint  glass  manu- 
facturing begun,  133;  population  (1810),  140;  first  steamboat  built, 
140;  first  cannon  made,  145;  directory  (1812-13),  145;  arsenal  estab- 
lished, 150;  churches  (1815),  151;  societies  (1815),  152  (see  also 
p.  526);  Permanent  Library  Co.  (1815),  152;  banks  (1815),  152;  build- 
ings (1815),  152;  population   (1815),  153. 

Population,  first  record,  66;  Craig's  annotated  list  (1760),  67;  Ecuyer's 
statement  concerning  (1763),  73;  Dr.  Hildreth's  estimate  (1788),  108; 
American  Museum  estimate  (1792),  111;  census  (1800),  128;  enumera- 
tion  (1810),  140;  enumeration   (1815),  153. 

Post  office  and  mails,  first,  74,  98;  in  the  year  1794,  119;  in  the  year  1801, 
129. 

Schoepf,  Dr.  Johann,  his  impression  of  Pittsburgh,  86. 

Robinson,  Geo.,  first  burgess    (with  Josiah  Tannehill),   116. 

Schools,  first,  66;  the  old  academy,  102   (see  also  Schools,  pp.  269,  287). 

Scull,  John,  and  Joseph  Hall,  establish  first  newspaper  (Gazette)  west  of 
Alleghenies,  91   (see  also  p.  483). 

Tannehill,  Josiah,  first  burgess   (with  Geo.  Robinson),  116. 

Water  supply,  first,  127   (see  also  pp.  167,  236,  237). 

Woods,  Geo.,  and  Thos.  Vickroy,  survey  Pittsburgh,  80. 

Vickroy,  Thos.,  deposition  of,  regarding  survey  of  Pittsburgh,  80. 

THE    MUNICIPALITY. 
1816-1906 

Allegheny,  incorporated  a  borough,  170;  population  (1830),  173;  incorpo- 
rated a  city,  182,  arsenal  explosion,  217;  river  bridges,  159,  182,  220,  241 
(observatory,  p.  297). 

Allegheny  County  (erected),  103;  second  court  house  built,  176;  jail  built, 
176;  population  (1840),  183;  tax  convention,  199;  addition  to  court 
house  and  jail,  221 ;  court  house  burned,  237 ;  present  court  house  built, 
238;  centennial,  238;  blast  furnaces,  248;  banking  resources,  268  (see 
also  pp.  105-108). 

Anti-Slavery  Society,  182. 

[  560  ] 


INDEX 

Arsenal  explosion,  217. 

Association,  Pittsburgh  manufacturing    (1819),   162;   firemen's  of  Pittsburgh 
and  Allegheny,  190;  brokers',  213;  various  business,  259-260;  merchants 
and  manufacturers',  260. 
Banks,  261;   clearings  for   1905,   267;    summary  of,   for  Greater  Pittsburgh, 
267;   comparison  of,  showing  capital,  surplus  and  profits,  loans  and  dis- 
counts, investment  securities,  deposits  and  total  resources  over  a  period 
of  last  twenty-five  years,  268. 
Barker,  Joseph,  as  Mayor  of  Pittsburgh,  194. 
Bayardstown,  laid  out,  157;  population   (1830),  173;  added  to  city,  175. 

Birmingham,  the  "South  Side,"  157;  incorporated  as  a  borough,  170;  popula- 
tion  (1850),  192;  added  to  city,  241. 

Board  of  Health  established,  202. 

Board  of  Trade,  Pittsburgh  (1835-36),  175;  reorganization  of,  202;  in  1901, 
259;  East  End,  Oakland,  Eighteenth  Ward,  Mt.  Washington,  Duquesne 
Heights,  259. 

Brashear,  John  A.,  Co.,  Limited,  256. 

Bridge,  Allegheny,  159;  Monongahela,  159;  Hand  street,  182;  Mechanic 
street,  182;  Monongahela  suspension,  185;  Allegheny  suspension  (1860), 
220;   Birmingham   (1861),  220;  Point,  237;  present  city,  241. 

Builders'  Exchange  League,  260. 

Canal,  the  Pennsylvania,  authorized  by  State,  168;  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny 
commissioners  appointed,  169;  western  section  completed,  169;  through 
line  opened,  169;  Pittsburgh  basin,  169;  the  Pittsburgh  and  Beaver,  181; 
iron  boats  for,  181;  Pennsylvania  canal  sold  by  State,  200;  the  Lake 
Erie  and  Ohio  River  Ship,  257. 

Carnegie  Institute,  building,  239    ( for  description  of  institute,  p.  553 ) . 

Carnegie  Steel  Co.,  249. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  258. 

City  Hall   (1852-53),  202;  the  present,  221. 

Civil  War,  the,  excitement  of  1860-61,  204;  Secretary  of  War  Floyd's  order 
to  remove  munitions  from  Allegheny  Arsenal,  205;  Major  Symington's 
refusal  to  stop  shipment,  206;  Committee  of  Public  Safety  organized, 
209;  demonstration  in  Pittsburgh  at  close  of,  217   (see  also  pp.  421-482). 

Clearing  House,  established,  220;   clearings  of,  for  1905,  267. 

Coal,  first  towed  by  steam,  190;  extent  of  fields  in  Pittsburgh  district,  246; 
output  in  1903,  246. 

Coke,  first  manufactured,  246;  output  in  1903,  246. 

Consolidations,  various  city,  198,  221,  241,  242. 

Exposition  Society,  258. 

Farragut,  Admiral,  visits  Pittsburgh,  219. 

Fenian  demonstration  at  Pittsburgh,  219. 

Fire  department  ( first,  see  p.  124 ) ,  association  of  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny, 
190;  first  paid,  236. 

Gas,  works,  ordinances  for  construction  of  first,  168;  first  natural,  224;  the 
Philadelphia  Co..  247. 

Grant,  Gen.,  visits  Pittsburgh,  219. 

Heinz  Co.,  H.  J.,  256. 

36  [    561    ] 


INDEX 

Iron,  rolling  mills,  early,   163-164;    boats  constructed  of,   181;   early  manu- 
factures of,  248;  used  in  outside  structure  of  buildings,  202;  enumeration 
of  manufactories    (1870),  222;   pig,  in  Pittsburgh  district    (1903),  250; 
manufactures  in  Pittsburgh  district   (1903),  250    (see  also  pp.  112,  114, 
129). 
Jones  and  Laughlin  Steel  Co.,  248. 
Kossuth,  Louis,  visits  Pittsburgh,  202. 
Lafayette,  Gen.,  visits  Pittsburgh,  167. 
Lake  Erie  and  Ohio  River  Ship  Canal,  257. 

Lawrenceville,  laid  out,  158;  population    (1850),  192;  added  to  city,  221.    , 
Lincoln,  President,  visits  Pittsburgh,  215. 

Manufactures,  enumeration  of  (1817),  160;  early  rolling  mills,  163;  enumera- 
tion of  (1826),  164;  value  of  (1835),  173;  salt  (1833),  175;  tariffs 
affecting,  164,  177,  178,  179;  value  of  (1837),  180;  iron  steamboats,  181; 
tariff  affecting,  183;  census  of  (1840),  183;  summary  of  (1850),  192; 
decrease  of,  194;  tariff  affecting  (1860-61),  204;  heavy  guns,  etc.,  212; 
tariffs  affecting  (1862-64),  212;  value  of  (1863),  213;  summary  of 
(1865),  213;  enumeration  of  (1870),  222;  elements  affecting,  244;  coke, 
246;  Bessemer  steel,  crucible  steel,  etc.,  248;  iron  and  steel  in  Pitts- 
burgh district  (1903),  250;  glass,  251;  electrical,  251;  value  of  electrical, 
254;  steamboat,  254;  locomotive,  254;  men  employed  in  Pittsburgh 
district,  257. 
Monongahela,  Navigation  Co.,  181;  Incline  Plane  Co.,  220;  river  bridges,  159, 

185,  220,  237,  241. 
Monroe,  President,  visits  Pittsburgh,  158. 
Northern  Liberties,  incorporated  as  a  borough,   170;    as  the   Fifth   Ward  of 

Pittsburgh,  175. 
Oakland  added  to  city,  221. 

Observatory,  Allegheny,  established,  213   (see  also  Schools,  p.  297). 
Oil  Well  Supply  Co.,  255. 
Parks,  vote  against  creating,  221;   present  area  of  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny, 

244  (see  also  pp.  537,  538). 
Petroleum,  wells,  248;  exchange,  213. 

Pittsburgh,  incorporated  as  a  city  (1816),  154;  government  of,  155;  first 
couneilmen,  156;  first  aldermen,  156;  streets  and  alleys  (1816),  157; 
suburbs,  157;  visit  of  President  Monroe,  158;  first  bridges,  159;  first 
rolling  mills,  163;  industrial  depression  (1818-24),  164;  visit  of 
Lafayette,  167;  ordinances  (1824-30),  167;  agitation  for  higher  tariff, 
170;  divided  into  four  wards  by  Legislature,  170;  excerpt  from  States- 
man on  substantiality  of  growth  (1829),  171;  popiilation  (1820),  173; 
population  (1830),  173;  value  of  manufactures  and  commerce  (1835), 
173;  transportation  lines  (1831-35),  173;  suburban  towns  of,  174; 
mayor  first  elected  by  people,  174;  municipal  improvements,  174;  visita- 
tion of  cholera,  174;  Board  of  Trade  (1835-36),  175;  visit  of  Daniel 
Webster,  175;  first  public  schools,  175  (see  also  Schools,  p.  269);  names 
of  city  wards  changed  to  numbers,  175;  agitation  for  high  tariff,  177, 
178,  179;  disturbed  financial  condition,  179;  panic  of  1837,  180;  im- 
provements  in   transportation,    181;    population    (1840),    182;    known   as 

[  562  ] 


INDEX 

the  Iron  City,  182;  industry  and  wealth  of  district,  census  of  1840,  183; 
newspapers  of  1842,  184;  great  fire  of  1845,  185;  waterworks  (second 
system),  190;  new  wards  added,  190;  telegraphic  communication  estab- 
lished, 191;  Merchants'  Exchange  established,  192;  city  script  redeemed. 
192;  visit  of  Henry  Clay,  192;  visit  of  President  Taylor  and  Governor 
Johnston,  192;  population  (1850),  192;  Manufactures  (1850),  192;  busi- 
ness depression  (1850-),  194;  lawlessness  in  1851,  195;  the  city's  bad 
credit,  195;  railroad  bonds  purchased,  195;  bonded  debt  (1855),  196; 
effort  to  consolidate  with  Allegheny  and  adjacent  boroughs,  198;  strin- 
gency of  1854,  199;  discriminated  against  in  freight  rates,  201;  visit  of 
Louis  Kossuth,  202;  city  hall  and  market  house  built  (1852-53),  202; 
Board  of  Health  established,  202;  custom  house  built,  202;  second  scourge 
of  cholera,  202 ;  Board  of  Trade  reorganized,  202 ;  first  street  railways, 
202;  Act  requiring  mayor,  treasurer,  and  controller  to  be  elected  bi- 
ennially, 202;  National  Convention  (1856),  203;  population  (1800),  204; 
war  excitement  (1860-61),  204;  settlement  of  railroad  debt,  210;  con- 
fusion in  money  matters  (1861),  210;  visit  of  Prince  of  Wales,  214;  visit 
of  President  Lincoln,  215;  arsenal  explosion,  217;  war  and  peace  cele- 
brations (1865),  217;  demonstration  over  President  Lincoln's  assassina- 
tion, 218;  visits  of  Gen.  Grant,  219;  visit  of  President  Johnson,  Admiral 
Farragut,  Secretaries  Seward  and  Welles,  219;  Fenian  demonstration, 
219;  Pennsylvania  railroad  depot  completed  (1866),  220;  Monongahela 
Incline  Plane  Co.,  220;  consolidation  of  1867,  221;  Forbes  street  laid 
out,  221;  population  (1870),  221;  manufactories  of  1870,  222;  business 
depression  (1871-75),  223;  first  natural  gas  wells,  224;  railroad  riots  of 
1877,  225;  first  paid  fire  department,  236;  water  system  (present),  236; 
prominent  buildings,  239;  consolidation  oi  1872,  241;  population  (1880), 
238;  population  (1890),  238;  consolidation  of  1906,  242;  the  district  of, 
244;  elements  afiecting  growth,  244-248;  bonded  debt  (1906),  244;  giant 
manufactories,  248;  tonnage,  257;  railroads  entering,  257;  railroad  pas- 
senger traffic,  257 ;  projected  traffic  improvements,  257 ;  business  associa- 
tions, 258;  banking  institutions  and  resources,  261. 

Population,  1820,  173;  1830,  173;  1840,  182;  1850,  192;  1860,  204;  1870,  221; 
1880,  238;   1890,  238;   1900,  243;    1905,  243. 

Porter  Co.,  H.  K.,  the,  254. 

Prince  of  Wales  visits  Pittsburgh,  214. 

Prison,  State,  the  old  Allegheny,  108. 

Railroads,  the  Portage  (1831-34),  169;  Baltimore  and  Frederick,  174;  bonds 
of,  purchased,  195;  early  projections  of,  196;  Pittsburgh  and  Ohio  com- 
pleted, 197;  Baltimore  and  Ohio  completed,  197;  Pennsylvania  Central 
completed,  197;  freight  rate  discrimination,  201;  settlement  of  city  and 
county  debts  for,  210;  Pennsylvania  depot,  completed  (1866),  220;  riots 
of  1877,  225;  present,  entering  Pitsburgh,  257;   street,  202,  240. 

Rees  and  Sons,  James,  254. 

Riter-Conley  Mfg.  Co.,  254. 

Schools,  first  public,  175   (see  also  pp.  269-323). 

Seward,  Secretary  of  State,  visits  Pittsburgh,  219. 

Standard  Sanitary  Mfg.  Co.,  256. 

Street  railways,  first,  202;   present,  240. 

[  561^  ] 


INDEX 

Tariff  legislation  affecting  Pittsburgh  industries,  164,  170,  177,  178,  179,  183, 

204,  212. 
Tonnage,  tax,  repeal  of,  201. 
Tonnage  of  Pittsburgh,  257. 
Waterworks,  ordinances   for  construction  of,   167;    system  of   1870-79,  236; 

present  system,  237. 
Webster,  Daniel,  visits  Pittsburgh,   175. 
Welles,  Secretary  of  Navy,  visits  Pittsburgh,  219. 
Westinghouse  industries,  251. 

THE    SCHOOLS. 

Academy,  the  old,  first  trace,  269 ;  sketch,  287 ;  graduates,  292 ;  Aquilla  M. 
Bolton's,  274. 

College,  Pittsburgh  Female,  285 ;  Pennsylvania  Female,  285 ;  Duff's  Mer- 
cantile, 285;  Iron  City  Commercial,  286  (Holy  Ghost,  see  Churches, 
p.  352). 

Institute,  Western  Female  Collegiate,  278;  Bishop  Bowman,  285  (Deaf  and 
Dumb,  see  Benevolent  Institutions,  p.  409 ) . 

League,  Art  Student's,  286. 

Observatory,  the  Allegheny,  297. 

Seminary,  Allegheny  Theological,  282;  Reformed  Presbyterian  Theological, 
283;  Western  Theological,  279;  Mrs.  Gazzam's,  275;  Harmonie,  277. 

School,  Boarding  and  Day:  Mrs.  Pride's,  270;  John  C.  Brevost's,  274;  Edge- 
worth,  278.  Day  and  Evening:  Thos.  Towsey's,  270.  Day,  Latin, 
Greek,  etc.:  Robt.  Steele's,  272.  Day:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  Carr's,  272; 
Samuel  Kingston's,  273;  Miss  Killikelly's,  286.  Evening:  Mr.  Mc- 
Donald's, 271;  John  Taylor's,  271;  Messrs.  Chute  and  Noyes'.  274. 
French:  N.  C.  Visinier's,  271;  John  C.  Brevost's,  274.  Girl's:  Thos. 
Hunt's,  274;  Anna  and  Arabella  Watt's,  275.  Lancasterian,  John  Board- 
man's,  275 ;  Curry  University,  286 ;  Allegheny  Preparatory,  287 ;  Park  In- 
stitute, 287;  Shadyside  Academy,  287;  Alinda,  287;  Thurston  Prepara- 
tory, 287 ;  East  Liberty  Academy,  287 ;  Pittsburgh  Academy,  287 ; 
Pittsburgh  School  of  Design,  286;  Select  Schools:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J. 
Graham's,  273;  Rev.  Joseph  Stockton's,  277;  Adelphi  Free,  305. 

Schools,  Carnegie  Technical,  303. 

Schools,  common,  first  provision  for,  in  Pennsylvania,  304;  Act  of  1809  pro- 
viding for,  305;  Pennsylvania  Society  for  Promotion  of,  306,  307; 
Governor  Wolf's  addresses  concerning  (1829-30),  306,  307;  Samuel  Fet- 
terman's  report  to  Legislature  on  need  of,  310;  Act  of  1831  providing 
for,  317;  Governor  Wolf's  message  concerning  (1831),  317;  Act  of  1834 
providing  for,  321;  first  Pittsburgh  (1834-35),  322;  Act  of  Consolidation 
for  (1854-55),  325;  Central  Board  of  Education  and  County  Superin- 
tendent for,  326;  Pitsbvirgh  High,  327;  comparative  view  of  Pittsburgh 
system,  328;  statement  of  (1900).  329;  statistical  report  of  (1900),  330; 
analysis  of  Pittsburgh  system,  333;  buildings  and  courses,  334;  kinder- 
gartens, 336;  vacation  schools,  336. 

University,  Western  Pennsylvania,  sketch  of,.  293;  early  faculty,  294;  Alle- 
gheny Observatory  transferred  to,  296;  Schools  of  Mines  and  Mining 
Engineering  of,  296;  Western  Pennsylvania  Medical  College  united  with, 

[564] 


INDEX 

297;  Pittsburgh  Law  Seliool  becomes  a  department  of,  297;  Pittsburgh 
College  of  Pharmacy  transferred  to,  297;  Pittsburgh  Dental  College 
transferred  to,  297. 


THE  CHURCHES. 

Baptist,  first,  377;  first  pastor  and  organization,  377;  Fourth  Avenue,  378; 
Shady  Avenue,  378. 

Churches,  comparison  of  Roman  Catholic,  1853-1903,  351;  number  of  Presby- 
terian, in  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny,  382;  cost  of  maintenance  of,  in 
Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny,  382;   Christian,  381;  Congregationalist.  381. 

Episcopalian,  Protestant,  deed  of  lots  to,  by  Jno.  Penn,  Jr.,  and  John  Penn, 
355;  first  trustees,  356;  first  pastor,  356;  Trinity  incorporated,  356; 
Old  Round  Church  built,  356;  pastors,  357;  second  Trinity  built,  357; 
other  churches  of  the  Diocese  of  Pittsburgh,  St.  Andrews',  St.  Paul's, 
Calvary,   Christ's    (Allegheny),   358. 

Evangelical,  First  German  United,  first  meetings,  376;  first  church,  376; 
deed  of  lands  to,  by  Jno.  Penn,  Jr.,  and  John  Penn,  376;  second,  third, 
and  fourth  churches,  377;  pastors,  377. 

Methodist,  378;  first  meetings,  378;  Christ's,  380;  first  church  built,  380; 
division  of,  380. 

Presbyterian,  East  Liberty,  organization  of  and  first  church  built.  370; 
pastors,  371;  offshoots  of.  Point  Breeze,  Highland  Tabernacle,  Valley 
View,  and  Sixth  United  Presbyterian,  371;   Shadyside,  371. 

Presbyterian,  First,  first  pastor,  360;  Jno.  Penn,  Jr.,  and  Jno.  Penn  deed 
lots  to,  360;  first  church  built,  362;  second,  363;  pastors,  365;  present 
church  built,  366. 

Presbyterian,  First  United,  organized,  372 ;  first  pastor,  373 ;  first  church 
built,  373;  second,  374;  third,  375;   fourth,  375;   pastors,  374,  375. 

Presbyterian,  Second,  organized  and  first  church  built,  366;  second,  366; 
third,  367;  pastors,  366,  377. 

Presbyterian,  Third,  organized,  367;  first  church  built,  368;  second,  368; 
reunion  of  old  and  new  schools  of  Presbyterianism  in,  368;  present 
church  built,  369;  pastors,  370. 

Roman  Catholic,  338;  first  services  in  Pittsburgh,  338;  chapel  in  Fort 
Duqiiesne,  339;  early  missionaries,  339;  "Old  St.  Patrick's,"  .340;  first 
St.  Paul's,  341,  342;  St.  Paul's  School.  344;  St.  Paul's  as  Cathedral  of 
Diocese,  344;  St.  Paul's  burned,  ,345;  second  St.  Paul's  (1851),  345; 
Diocese  of  Pittsburgh  divided,  346;  history  of  Diocese  of  Pittsburgh 
(1853-1903),  346;  diocesan  schools,  349;  Cathedral  Lyceum,  349; 
dioceses  reunited,  349 ;  offshoots  of  Cathedral,  349 ;  comparison  of 
church  (1853-1903),  351;  churches  and  schools  in  Pittsburgh  and  Alle- 
gheny, 351;  Cathedral  sold   (1901),  353;  new  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  353. 

Unitarian,  381. 

Universalist,  381. 

Jewish,  381. 

[    565    ] 


INDEX 

HOSPITALS   AND   BENEVOLENT   INSTITUTIONS. 

Allegheny  General  Hospital,  incorporated,  400;  additions,  400;  present  build- 
ing erected,  401;   staff,  401. 

Bethesda  Home,  405. 

Children's  Aid  Society  of  Western  Pennsylvania,  406. 

Children's  Hospital,  404. 

Curtis  Home  for  Destitute  Women  and  Girls,  405. 

Dixmont  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  387,  389,  393. 

Home  for  Epileptics    (at  Rochester),  403. 

Eye  and  Ear  Hospital,  404. 

Home  for  Aged  and  Infirm  Colored  Women,  406. 

Home  for  Colored  Children,  406. 

Homoeopathic  Hospital,  incorporated,  394;  first  trustees  and  officers,  395; 
staff,  18G6-67,  395;  Ladies'  Association  of,  396-397;  second  building,  396; 
training  school  for  nurses,  398;  eye  and  ear  dispensary,  398;  quarantine 
against,  399;  site  for  new  building  chosen,  399;  medical  board,  400. 

Kingsley  House,  407. 

Mercy  Hospital,  organized,  383;  first  building,  383;  incorporated,  385;  new 
building  of.  385;  trustees,  386;  stati",  386. 

Miscellaneous  institutions,  412-413. 

Municipal  Hospital,  erected,  385. 

Newsboy's   Home,  407. 

Passavant  Hospital,  403. 

Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny  Home  for  the  Friendless,  407. 

Pittsburgh  Association  for  Improvement  of  the  Poor,  406. 

Protestant  Home  for  Incurables,  408. 

Protestant  Orphan  Asylum,  408. 

Reineman  Maternity  Hospital,   404. 

Rosalie  Home,  Foundling  Asylum  and  Maternity  Hospital,  405. 

St.  Francis  Hospital,  established,  393;  incorporated,  393;  first  and  second 
buildings,  393;   staff,  393. 

St.  John's  General,  402. 

South  Side  Hospital,  beginning  of,  401;   present  building  erected,  402. 

Twelfth  Ward  Hospital,  389. 

Western  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  incorporated,  386;  opened,  387;  insane  de- 
partment established,  387;  during  the  Civil  War,  388;  Twelfth  Ward 
Hospital  endowed  by,  389;  officers,  389;  staff,  389;  president's  statement 
to  Board  of  Managers   (1905),  390;  separated  from  Dixmont,  393. 

Western  Pennsylvania  Humane  Society,  406. 

Western  Pennsylvania  Institution  for  the  Blind,  409. 

Western  Pennsylvania  Institution  for  the  Instruction  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb, 
408. 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  409. 

Young  Women's  Christian  Association,  411. 


[  566] 


INDEX 


RECORDS    OF    FOUR    WARS. 

Civil  War,  first  overt  act,  421;  first  call  for  volunteers,  423;  Twelfth  Regi- 
ment, 424;  Thirteenth,  425;  Fifth,  426;  Seventh,  426;  Negley  Zouaves, 
426;  Alliquippa  Guards,  426;  subscriptions  for  equipment,  426;  de- 
parture of  Allegheny  county  troops,  427;  at  Camp  Scott,  429;  Committee 
of  Public  Safety,  434;  subcommittees,  434;  Home  Guards,  437;  Reserve 
Corps,  441;  in  Camp  Wright.  444;  Eighth  Regiment,  444;  Ninth,  445; 
Tenth,  445;  Eleventh,  446;  Erie  Regiment,  446;  unaccepted  companies, 
448;  clothing  frauds,  452;  second  call  for  500,000  volunteers,  455;  three 
years'  service  men,  457;  Eleventh  Regiment,  457;  Twenty-eighth,  457; 
Thirty-seventh.  458;  Thirty-eighth,  458;  Forty- fourth,  458;  Forty-sixth, 
458;  Forty-ninth,  458;  Fifth  —  West  Virginia  Cavalry  Volunteers,  458; 
First  —  West  Virginia  Artillery,  459 ;  Fifty-seventh,  459 ;  Sixtieth,  459 ; 
Sixty-first,  459;  Sixty-second,  459;  Sixty-third,  460;  Sixty-fourth,  460; 
Sixty-fifth,  461;  Sixty-seventh,  461;  Seventy-fourth,  461;  Seventy-sixth, 
461;  Seventy-seventh,  461;  Seventy-eighth,  461;  Eightieth  —  Seventh 
Cavalry,  461;  Eighty-second.  462;  Eighty-third,  462;  Eighty-seventh, 
462;  One  Hundred  and  First,  462;  One  Hundred  and  Second,  462;  One 
Hundred  and  Third,  463;  One  Hundred  and  Fifth,  463;  One  Hundred  and 
Seventeenth  —  Thirteenth  Cavalry,  463;  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third, 
464;  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-sixth,  464;  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
ninth,  465;  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth,  465;  One  Hundred  and  Ninety- 
third,  466;  Two  Hundred  and  Fourth,  466;  Pittsburgh  threatened.  467; 
earthworks  at  Pittsburgh,  469;  third  requisition  and  history  of  the  draft, 
470-478;   Subsistence  Committee.  478. 

Mexican  War,  419;  names  of  the  Duquesne  Grays,  420;  the  Jackson  Blues,  420. 

Spanish- American  War,  480;  Fourteenth  Regiment,  480;  Tenth,  480;  Battery 
B,  481. 

War  of  1812,  414;  names  of  the  Pittsburgh  Blues,  419;  cannon  and  rigging 
furnished  for,  419. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

Gazette,  the,  483;  becomes  a  daily.  486;  Tree  of  Liberty,  485,  496;  Times, 
488;  Post,  488;  Sunday  Post,  490;  ^un,  490;  Dispatch,  491;  Sunday 
Dispatch,  492 ;  Sunday  Leader,  493 ;  Chronicle,  and  Chronicle  Telegraph, 
494;  Press,  495;  Bulletin,  495;  Index,  496;  Pittsburgh  Catholic,  496; 
Pittsburgh  Observer,  496;  miscellaneous  publications  (1801-1850),  496; 
Trades  Papers,  502. 

JUDICIARY  OF  ALLEGHENY  COUNTY. 

Provincial  Courts.  503,  504,  505;  Allegheny  County  Courts  established,  506; 
first  judges,  507;  reorganization  of  courts,  507;  Mayor's  Court,  508; 
Judges  of  Common  Pleas,  Quarter  Sessions,  and  Orphans'  Court,  prior 
to  the  constitution  of  1790,  509;  Associate  Judges  under  the  constitution 
of   1790,  509;    President  Judges  of  Common   Pleas,  etc.,  510;   Associate 

[567] 


INDEX 

Judges  of  Common  Pleas,  511;  President  Judges  of  the  District  Court, 
512;  Associate  Judges  of  same,  513;  District  Court  abolished  (1873), 
513;  Common  Pleas,  No.  2,  513;  Common  Pleas,  No.  3,  514;  Orphans' 
Court,  515;  Juvenile  Court,  516. 


SOME    PIONEER    MEN    \ND    OTHER  MATTERS. 

Bayard,  Col.  Stephen,  518. 

Brackenridge,  H.  H.,  523;   his  description  of  Pittsburgh,  523-525. 

Brackenridge,  H.  M.,  523. 

Cemetery,  the  Allegheny,  536;  mention  of  others,  537. 

Clubs,  538-539. 

Craig,  Major  Isaac,  518   (see  also  pp.  59,  80,  121). 

Dancing  masters,  early,  532. 

Denny,  Ebenezer,  521. 

Foster,  Stephen  C,  536. 

Horse  racing,  525. 

Institute,  Carnegie,  551 ;  departments  of,  554. 

Institute,  Pittsburgh,  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  535. 

Libraries  and  bookstores,  early,  541. 

Library,  Pittsburgh  Permanent;  Mercantile,  547;  Anderson,  549;  Carnegie 
(Allegheny),  549;   Carnegie    (Pittsburgh),  551. 

Morgan,  Col.  George,  519. 

Music,  early,  teachers  of,  533;  the  Mozart  Club,  535, 

Neville,  John,  520. 

Nevin,  Ethelbert  and  Arthur,  536. 

O'Hara,  James,  519   (see  also  p.  121). 

Orchestra,  the  Pittsburgh,  539. 

Ormsby,  John,  521. 

Park,  Schenley,  537;  Riverview,  538;  Highland,  538. 

Ross,  James,  522. 

Schenley,  Mrs.  Mary  E.,  538. 

Societies,  early,  526;  the  Pittsburgh  Mechanical,  526;  Chemical  and  Physio- 
logical, 527;  Franklin,  527;  first  Historical,  533;  Western  Pennsylvania 
Historical,  533;  Art  Society,  535. 

Street  names,  historical,  changed,  533. 

The3,tres,  first,  528;  the  Old  Drury,  531;  Pittsburgh  Opera  House,  532; 
Academy,  532;  Bijou,  532;  Duquesne,  532;  Alvin,  532;  Empire,  532; 
Nixon,  532;  Gayety,  532. 

Visit  of  Dukes  of  Orleans,  Montpensier,  and  Beaujolais,  523. 

Wilkins,  John,  520. 


Hf 


[  508  ] 

^  y  d" 


Deacidified  using  the  Bookkeeper  process. 
Neutralizing  Agent;  Magnesium  Oxide 
Treatment  Date: 


BBRKEEPEl 


PRESERVATION  TECHNOLOGIES.  LP. 
1 1 1  Thomson  Park  Drive 
Cranberry  Township.  PA  1606S 
(724)  779-21 1 1